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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/27533-8.txt b/27533-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..34694b4 --- /dev/null +++ b/27533-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8428 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Struggles of Brown, Jones, and Robinson, +by Anthony Trollope + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Struggles of Brown, Jones, and Robinson + By One of the Firm + + +Author: Anthony Trollope + + + +Release Date: December 14, 2008 [eBook #27533] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STRUGGLES OF BROWN, JONES, AND +ROBINSON*** + + +E-text prepared by Joseph E. Loewenstein, M.D., and Delphine Lettau + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 27533-h.htm or 27533-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/7/5/3/27533/27533-h/27533-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/7/5/3/27533/27533-h.zip) + + + + + +THE STRUGGLES OF BROWN, JONES, AND ROBINSON: + +by + +ONE OF THE FIRM + +Edited by + +ANTHONY TROLLOPE + +Author of "Framley Parsonage," "The Last Chronicle of Barset," +&c. &c. + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Jones is vanquished by Mrs. Morony (Chapter XIV). +(frontispiece)] + +[Illustration: Title page.] + + + +Reprinted from the "Cornhill Magazine." + +With Four Illustrations. + +London: +Smith, Elder & Co., 15, Waterloo Place. +1870. + + + + +CONTENTS + + I. PREFACE. BY ONE OF THE FIRM. + + II. THE EARLY HISTORY OF OUR MR. BROWN, + WITH SOME FEW WORDS OF MR. JONES. + + III. THE EARLY HISTORY OF MR. ROBINSON. + + IV. NINE TIMES NINE IS EIGHTY-ONE. SHOWING HOW BROWN, JONES, + AND ROBINSON SELECTED THEIR HOUSE OF BUSINESS. + + V. THE DIVISION OF LABOUR. + + VI. IT IS OUR OPENING DAY. + + VII. MISS BROWN PLEADS HER OWN CASE, AND MR. ROBINSON WALKS + ON BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE. + + VIII. MR. BRISKET THINKS HE SEES HIS WAY, AND MR. ROBINSON + AGAIN WALKS ON BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE. + + IX. SHOWING HOW MR. ROBINSON WAS EMPLOYED ON THE OPENING DAY. + + X. SHOWING HOW THE FIRM INVENTED A NEW SHIRT. + + XI. JOHNSON OF MANCHESTER. + + XII. SAMSON AND DELILAH. + + XIII. THE WISDOM OF POPPINS. + + XIV. MISTRESS MORONY. + + XV. MISS BROWN NAMES THE DAY. + + XVI. SHOWING HOW ROBINSON WALKED UPON ROSES. + + XVII. A TEA-PARTY IN BISHOPSGATE STREET. + + XVIII. AN EVENING AT THE "GOOSE AND GRIDIRON." + + XIX. GEORGE ROBINSON'S MARRIAGE. + + XX. SHOWING HOW MR. BRISKET DIDN'T SEE HIS WAY. + + XXI. MR. BROWN IS TAKEN ILL. + + XXII. WASTEFUL AND IMPETUOUS SALE. + + XXIII. FAREWELL. + + XXIV. GEORGE ROBINSON'S DREAM. + + +CHAPTER I. + +PREFACE. + +BY ONE OF THE FIRM. + + +It will be observed by the literary and commercial world that, in +this transaction, the name of the really responsible party does not +show on the title-page. I--George Robinson--am that party. When our +Mr. Jones objected to the publication of these memoirs unless they +appeared as coming from the firm itself, I at once gave way. I had +no wish to offend the firm, and, perhaps, encounter a lawsuit for +the empty honour of seeing my name advertised as that of an author. +We had talked the matter over with our Mr. Brown, who, however, +was at that time in affliction, and not able to offer much that +was available. One thing he did say; "As we are partners," said Mr. +Brown, "let's be partners to the end." "Well," said I, "if you say +so, Mr. Brown, so it shall be." I never supposed that Mr. Brown would +set the Thames on fire, and soon learnt that he was not the man to +amass a fortune by British commerce. He was not made for the guild +of Merchant Princes. But he was the senior member of our firm, and I +always respected the old-fashioned doctrine of capital in the person +of our Mr. Brown. + +When Mr. Brown said, "Let's be partners to the end; it won't be for +long, Mr. Robinson," I never said another word. "No," said I, "Mr. +Brown; you're not what you was--and you're down a peg; I'm not the +man to take advantage and go against your last wishes. Whether for +long or whether for short, we'll pull through in the same boat to the +end. It shall be put on the title-page--'By One of the Firm.'" "God +bless you, Mr. Robinson," said he; "God bless you." + +And then Mr. Jones started another objection. The reader will soon +realize that anything I do is sure to be wrong with Mr. Jones. It +wouldn't be him else. He next declares that I can't write English, +and that the book must be corrected, and put out by an editor? Now, +when I inform the discerning British Public that every advertisement +that has been posted by Brown, Jones, and Robinson, during the last +three years has come from my own unaided pen, I think few will doubt +my capacity to write the "Memoirs of Brown, Jones, and Robinson," +without any editor whatsoever. + +On this head I was determined to be firm. What! after preparing, and +correcting, and publishing such thousands of advertisements in prose +and verse and in every form of which the language is susceptible, +to be told that I couldn't write English! It was Jones all over. +If there is a party envious of the genius of another party in this +sublunary world that party is our Mr. Jones. + +But I was again softened by a touching appeal from our senior +partner. Mr. Brown, though prosaic enough in his general ideas, was +still sometimes given to the Muses; and now, with a melancholy and +tender cadence, he quoted the following lines;-- + + + "Let dogs delight to bark and bite, + For 'tis their nature to. + But 'tis a shameful sight to see, when partners of one firm + like we, + Fall out, and chide, and fight!" + + +So I gave in again. + +It was then arranged that one of Smith and Elder's young men should +look through the manuscript, and make any few alterations which the +taste of the public might require. It might be that the sonorous, +and, if I may so express myself, magniloquent phraseology in which +I was accustomed to invite the attention of the nobility and gentry +to our last importations was not suited for the purposes of light +literature, such as this. "In fiction, Mr. Robinson, your own unaided +talents would doubtless make you great," said to me the editor of +this Magazine; "but if I may be allowed an opinion, I do think that +in the delicate task of composing memoirs a little assistance may +perhaps be not inexpedient." + +This was prettily worded; so what with this, and what with our Mr. +Brown's poetry, I gave way; but I reserved to myself the right of an +epistolary preface in my own name. So here it is. + + +LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,--I am not a bit ashamed of my part in the +following transaction. I have done what little in me lay to further +British commerce. British commerce is not now what it was. It is +becoming open and free like everything else that is British;--open +to the poor man as well as to the rich. That bugbear Capital is a +crumbling old tower, and is pretty nigh brought to its last ruin. +Credit is the polished shaft of the temple on which the new world +of trade will be content to lean. That, I take it, is the one great +doctrine of modern commerce. Credit,--credit,--credit. Get credit, +and capital will follow. Doesn't the word speak for itself? Must not +credit be respectable? And is not the word "respectable" the highest +term of praise which can be applied to the British tradesman? + +Credit is the polished shaft of the temple. But with what are you to +polish it? The stone does not come from the quarry with its gloss on. +Man's labour is necessary to give it that beauteous exterior. Then +wherewith shall we polish credit? I answer the question at once. With +the pumice-stone and sand-paper of advertisement. + +Different great men have promulgated the different means by which they +have sought to subjugate the world. "Audacity--audacity--audacity," +was the lesson which one hero taught. "Agitate--agitate--agitate," +was the counsel of a second. "Register--register--register," of a +third. But I say--Advertise, advertise, advertise! And I say it again +and again--Advertise, advertise, advertise! It is, or should be, +the Shibboleth of British commerce. That it certainly will be so I, +George Robinson, hereby venture to prophesy, feeling that on this +subject something but little short of inspiration has touched my +eager pen. + +There are those,--men of the old school, who cannot rouse themselves +to see and read the signs of the time, men who would have been in +the last ranks, let them have lived when they would,--who object to +it that it is untrue,--who say that advertisements do not keep the +promises which they make. But what says the poet,--he whom we teach +our children to read? What says the stern moralist to his wicked +mother in the play? "Assume a virtue if you have it not?" and so say +I. "Assume a virtue if you have it not." It would be a great trade +virtue in a haberdasher to have forty thousand pairs of best hose +lying ready for sale in his warehouse. Let him assume that virtue if +he have it not. Is not this the way in which we all live, and the +only way in which it is possible to live comfortably. A gentleman +gives a dinner party. His lady, who has to work all day like a +dray-horse and scold the servants besides, to get things into order, +loses her temper. We all pretty well know what that means. Well; up +to the moment when she has to show, she is as bitter a piece of goods +as may be. But, nevertheless, she comes down all smiles, although she +knows that at that moment the drunken cook is spoiling the fish. She +assumes a virtue, though she has it not; and who will say she is not +right? + +Well; I say again and again to all young tradesmen;--Advertise, +advertise, advertise;--and don't stop to think too much about +capital. It is a bugbear. Capital is a bugbear; and it is talked +about by those who have it,--and by some that have not so much of it +neither,--for the sake of putting down competition, and keeping the +market to themselves. + +There's the same game going on all the world over; and it's the +natural game for mankind to play at. They who's up a bit is all for +keeping down them who is down; and they who is down is so very soft +through being down, that they've not spirit to force themselves up. +Now I saw that very early in life. There is always going on a battle +between aristocracy and democracy. Aristocracy likes to keep itself +to itself; and democracy is just of the same opinion, only wishes to +become aristocracy first. + +We of the people are not very fond of dukes; but we'd all like to be +dukes well enough ourselves. Now there are dukes in trade as well +as in society. Capitalists are our dukes; and as they don't like to +have their heels trod upon any more than the other ones, why they +are always preaching up capital. It is their star and garter, their +coronet, their ermine, their robe of state, their cap of maintenance, +their wand of office, their noli me tangere. But stars and garters, +caps and wands, and all other noli me tangeres, are gammon to those +who can see through them. And capital is gammon. Capital is a very +nice thing if you can get it. It is the desirable result of trade. A +tradesman looks to end with a capital. But it's gammon to say that +he can't begin without it. You might as well say a man can't marry +unless he has first got a family. Why, he marries that he may have a +family. It's putting the cart before the horse. + +It's my opinion that any man can be a duke if so be it's born to him. +It requires neither wit nor industry, nor any pushing nor go-ahead +whatsoever. A man may sit still in his arm-chair, half asleep half +his time, and only half awake the other, and be as good a duke as +need be. Well; it's just the same in trade. If a man is born to a +dukedom there, if he begins with a large capital, why, I for one +would not thank him to be successful. Any fool could do as much as +that. He has only to keep on polishing his own star and garter, and +there are lots of people to swear that there is no one like him. + +But give me the man who can be a duke without being born to it. Give +me the man who can go ahead in trade without capital; who can begin +the world with a quick pair of hands, a quick brain to govern them, +and can end with a capital. + +Well, there you are; a young tradesman beginning the world without +capital. Capital, though it's a bugbear, nevertheless it's a virtue. +Therefore, as you haven't got it, you must assume it. That's credit. +Credit I take to be the belief of other people in a thing that +doesn't really exist. When you go into your friend Smith's house, +and find Mrs. S. all smiles, you give her credit for the sweetest of +tempers. Your friend S. knows better; but then you see she's had wit +enough to obtain credit. When I draw a bill at three months, and get +it done, I do the same thing. That's credit. Give me credit enough, +and I don't care a brass button for capital. If I could have but one +wish, I would never ask a fairy for a second or a third. Let me have +but unreserved credit, and I'll beat any duke of either aristocracy. + +To obtain credit the only certain method is to advertise. Advertise, +advertise, advertise. That is, assume, assume, assume. Go on assuming +your virtue. The more you haven't got it, the more you must assume +it. The bitterer your own heart is about that drunken cook and that +idle husband who will do nothing to assist you, the sweeter you +must smile. Smile sweet enough, and all the world will believe you. +Advertise long enough, and credit will come. + +But there must be some nous in your advertisements; there must be a +system, and there must be some wit in your system. It won't suffice +now-a-days to stick up on a blank wall a simple placard to say that +you have forty thousand best hose just new arrived. Any wooden-headed +fellow can do as much as that. That might have served in the olden +times that we hear of, twenty years since; but the game to be +successful in these days must be played in another sort of fashion. +There must be some finish about your advertisements, something new in +your style, something that will startle in your manner. If a man can +make himself a real master of this art, we may say that he has learnt +his trade, whatever that trade may be. Let him know how to advertise, +and the rest will follow. + +It may be that I shouldn't boast; but yet I do boast that I have made +some little progress in this business. If I haven't yet practised +the art in all its perfections, nevertheless I flatter myself I have +learned how to practise it. Regarding myself as something of a master +of this art, and being actuated by purely philanthropic motives in my +wish to make known my experience, I now put these memoirs before the +public. + +It will, of course, be urged against me that I have not been +successful in what I have already attempted, and that our house +has failed. This is true. I have not been successful. Our house +has failed. But with whom has the fault been? Certainly not in my +department. + +The fact is, and in this my preface I will not keep the truth +back from a discerning public, that no firm on earth,--or indeed +elsewhere,--could be successful in which our Mr. Jones is one of the +partners. There is an overweening vanity about that man which is +quite upsetting. I confess I have been unable to stand it. Vanity is +always allied to folly, and the relationship is very close in the +person of our Mr. Jones. Of Mr. Brown I will never bring myself to +say one disrespectful word. He is not now what he was once. From the +bottom of my heart I pity his misfortunes. Think what it must be +to be papa to a Goneril and a Regan,--without the Cordelia. I have +always looked on Mrs. Jones as a regular Goneril; and as for the +Regan, why it seems to me that Miss Brown is likely to be Miss Regan +to the end of the chapter. + +No; of Mr. Brown I will say nothing disrespectful; but he never was +the man to be first partner in an advertising firm. That was our +mistake. He had old-fashioned views about capital which were very +burdensome. My mistake was this,--that in joining myself with Mr. +Brown, I compromised my principles, and held out, as it were, a left +hand to capital. He had not much, as will be seen; but he thought a +deal of what he had got, and talked a deal of it too. This impeded my +wings. This prevented me from soaring. One cannot touch pitch and not +be defiled. I have been untrue to myself in having had any dealings +on the basis of capital; and hence has it arisen that hitherto I have +failed. + +I make these confessions hoping that they may be serviceable to trade +in general. A man cannot learn a great secret, and the full use of a +great secret, all at once. My eyes are now open. I shall not again +make so fatal a mistake. I am still young. I have now learned my +lesson more thoroughly, and I yet anticipate success with some +confidence. + +Had Mr. Brown at once taken my advice, had his few thousand pounds +been liberally expended in commencing a true system of advertising, +we should have been,--I can hardly surmise where we should have been. +He was for sticking altogether to the old system. Mr. Jones was for +mixing the old and the new, for laying in stock and advertising as +well, with a capital of 4,000_l_! What my opinion is of Mr. Jones I +will not now say, but of Mr. Brown I will never utter one word of +disparagement. + +I have now expressed what few words I wish to say on my own bottom. +As to what has been done in the following pages by the young man who +has been employed to look over these memoirs and put them into shape, +it is not for me to speak. It may be that I think they might have +read more natural-like had no other cook had a finger in the pie. The +facts, however, are facts still. These have not been cooked. + +Ladies and gentlemen, you who have so long distinguished our firm by +a liberal patronage, to you I now respectfully appeal, and in showing +to you a new article I beg to assure you with perfect confidence that +there is nothing equal to it at the price at present in the market. +The supply on hand is immense, but as a sale of unprecedented +rapidity is anticipated, may I respectfully solicit your early +orders? If not approved of the article shall be changed. + +Ladies and gentlemen, +We have the honour to subscribe ourselves, +With every respect, +Your most obedient humble servants, +BROWN, JONES, AND ROBINSON, +PER GEORGE ROBINSON. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE EARLY HISTORY OF OUR MR. BROWN, WITH SOME FEW WORDS OF MR. JONES. + + +O Commerce, how wonderful are thy ways, how vast thy power, how +invisible thy dominion! Who can restrain thee and forbid thy further +progress? Kings are but as infants in thy hands, and emperors, +despotic in all else, are bound to obey thee! Thou civilizest, hast +civilized, and wilt civilize. Civilization is thy mission, and man's +welfare thine appointed charge. The nation that most warmly fosters +thee shall ever be the greatest in the earth; and without thee no +nation shall endure for a day. Thou art our Alpha and our Omega, our +beginning and our end; the marrow of our bones, the salt of our life, +the sap of our branches, the corner-stone of our temple, the rock of +our foundation. We are built on thee, and for thee, and with thee. To +worship thee should be man's chiefest care, to know thy hidden ways +his chosen study. + +One maxim hast thou, O Commerce, great and true and profitable above +all others;--one law which thy votaries should never transgress. "Buy +in the cheapest market and sell in the dearest." May those divine +words be ever found engraved on the hearts of Brown, Jones, and +Robinson! + +Of Mr. Brown, the senior member of our firm, it is expedient that +some short memoir should be given. At the time at which we signed +our articles in 185--, Mr. Brown had just retired from the butter +business. It does not appear that in his early youth he ever had the +advantage of an apprenticeship, and he seems to have been employed +in various branches of trade in the position, if one may say so, +of an out-door messenger. In this capacity he entered the service +of Mr. McCockerell, a retail butter dealer in Smithfield. When Mr. +McCockerell died our Mr. Brown married his widow, and thus found +himself elevated at once to the full-blown dignity of a tradesman. He +and his wife lived together for thirty years, and it is believed that +in the temper of his lady he found some alloy to the prosperity which +he had achieved. The widow McCockerell, in bestowing her person upon +Mr. Brown, had not intended to endow him also with entire dominion +over her shop and chattels. She loved to be supreme over her butter +tubs, and she loved also to be supreme over her till. Brown's views +on the rights of women were more in accordance with the law of the +land as laid down in the statutes. He opined that a _femme couverte_ +could own no property, not even a butter tub;--and hence quarrels +arose. + +After thirty years of contests such as these Mr. Brown found himself +victorious, made so not by the power of arguments, nor by that of +his own right arm, but by the demise of Mrs. Brown. That amiable +lady died, leaving two daughters to lament their loss, and a series +of family quarrels, by which she did whatever lay in her power to +embarrass her husband, but by which she could not prevent him from +becoming absolute owner of the butter business, and of the stock in +trade. + +The two young ladies had not been brought up to the ways of the +counter; and as Mr. Brown was not himself especially expert at that +particular business in which his money was embarked, he prudently +thought it expedient to dispose of the shop and goodwill. This he +did to advantage; and thus at the age of fifty-five he found himself +again on the world with 4,000_l_. in his pocket. + +At this period one of his daughters was no longer under his own +charge. Sarah Jane, the eldest of the two, was already Mrs. Jones. +She had been captivated by the black hair and silk waistcoat of Mr. +Jones, and had gone off with him in opposition to the wishes of both +parents. This, she was aware, was not matter of much moment, for +the opposition of one was sure to bring about a reconciliation with +the other. And such was soon the case. Mrs. Brown would not see her +daughter, or allow Jones to put his foot inside the butter-shop. Mr. +Brown consequently took lodgings for them in the neighbourhood, and +hence a close alliance sprung up between the future partners. + +At this crisis Maryanne devoted herself to her mother. It was +admitted by all who knew her that Maryanne Brown had charms. At that +time she was about twenty-four years of age, and was certainly a fine +young woman. She was, like her mother, a little too much inclined to +corpulence, and there may be those who would not allow that her hair +was auburn. Mr. Robinson, however, who was then devotedly attached to +her, was of that opinion, and was ready to maintain his views against +any man who would dare to say that it was red. + +There was a dash about Maryanne Brown at that period which endeared +her greatly to Mr. Robinson. She was quite above anything mean, and +when her papa was left a widower in possession of four thousand +pounds, she was one of those who were most anxious to induce him +to go to work with spirit in a new business. She was all for +advertising; that must be confessed of her, though her subsequent +conduct was not all that it should have been. Maryanne Brown, when +tried in the furnace, did not come out pure gold; but this, at any +rate, shall be confessed in her behalf, that she had a dash about +her, and understood more of the tricks of trade than any other of her +family. + +Mrs. McCockerell died about six months after her eldest daughter's +marriage. She was generally called Mrs. McCockerell in the +neighbourhood of Smithfield, though so many years had passed since +she had lost her right to that name. Indeed, she generally preferred +being so styled, as Mr. Brown was peculiarly averse to it. The name +was wormwood to him, and this was quite sufficient to give it melody +in her ears. + +The good lady died about six months after her daughter's marriage. +She was struck with apoplexy, and at that time had not been +reconciled to her married daughter. Sarah Jane, nevertheless, when +she heard what had occurred, came over to Smithfield. Her husband was +then in employment as shopman at the large haberdashery house on Snow +Hill, and lived with his wife in lodgings in Cowcross Street. They +were supported nearly entirely by Mr. Brown, and therefore owed to +him at this crisis not only obedience, but dutiful affection. + +When, however, Sarah Jane first heard of her mother's illness, she +seemed to think that she couldn't quarrel with her father fast +enough. Jones had an idea that the old lady's money must go to her +daughters, that she had the power of putting it altogether out of the +hands of her husband, and that having the power she would certainly +exercise it. On this speculation he had married; and as he and his +wife fully concurred in their financial views, it was considered +expedient by them to lose no time in asserting their right. This they +did as soon as the breath was out of the old lady's body. + +Jones had married Sarah Jane solely with this view; and, indeed, +it was highly improbable that he should have done so on any other +consideration. Sarah Jane was certainly not a handsome girl. Her neck +was scraggy, her arms lean, and her lips thin; and she resembled +neither her father nor her mother. Her light brown, sandy hair, which +always looked as though it were too thin and too short to adapt +itself to any feminine usage, was also not of her family; but her +disposition was a compound of the paternal and maternal qualities. +She had all her father's painful hesitating timidity, and with it all +her mother's grasping spirit. If there ever was an eye that looked +sharp after the pence, that could weigh the ounces of a servant's +meal at a glance, and foresee and prevent the expenditure of a +farthing, it was the eye of Sarah Jane Brown. They say that it is +as easy to save a fortune as to make one; and in this way, if in no +other, Jones may be said to have got a fortune with his wife. + +As soon as the breath was out of Mrs. McCockerell's body, Sarah Jane +was there, taking inventory of the stock. At that moment poor Mr. +Brown was very much to be pitied. He was a man of feeling, and even +if his heart was not touched by his late loss, he knew what was due +to decency. It behoved him now as a widower to forget the deceased +lady's faults, and to put her under the ground with solemnity. This +was done with the strictest propriety; and although he must, of +course, have been thinking a good deal at that time as to whether he +was to be a beggar or a rich man, nevertheless he conducted himself +till after the funeral as though he hadn't a care on his mind, except +the loss of Mrs. B. + +Maryanne was as much on the alert as her sister. She had been for the +last six months her mother's pet, as Sarah Jane had been her father's +darling. There was some excuse, therefore, for Maryanne when she +endeavoured to get what she could in the scramble. Sarah Jane played +the part of Goneril to the life, and would have denied her father the +barest necessaries of existence, had it not ultimately turned out +that the property was his own. + +Maryanne was not well pleased to see her sister returning to the +house at such a moment. She, at least, had been dutiful to her +mother, or, if undutiful, not openly so. If Mrs. McCockerell had the +power of leaving her property to whom she pleased, it would be only +natural that she should leave it to the daughter who had obeyed her, +and not to the daughter who had added to personal disobedience the +worse fault of having been on friendly terms with her father. + +This, one would have thought, would have been clear at any rate to +Jones, if not to Sarah Jane; but they both seemed at this time to +have imagined that the eldest child had some right to the inheritance +as being the eldest. It will be observed by this and by many other +traits in his character that Mr. Jones had never enjoyed the +advantages of an education. + +Mrs. McCockerell never spoke after the fit first struck her. She +never moved an eye, or stirred a limb, or uttered a word. It was a +wretched household at that time. The good lady died on a Wednesday, +and was gathered to her fathers at Kensal Green Cemetery on the +Tuesday following. During the intervening days Mr. Jones and Sarah +Jane took on themselves as though they were owners of everything. +Maryanne did try to prevent the inventory, not wishing it to appear +that Mrs. Jones had any right to meddle; but the task was too +congenial to Sarah Jane's spirit to allow of her giving it over. She +revelled in the work. It was a delight to her to search out hidden +stores of useless wealth,--to bring forth to the light forgotten +hoards of cups and saucers, and to catalogue every rag on the +premises. + +The house at this time was not a pleasant one. Mr. Brown, finding +that Jones, in whom he had trusted, had turned against him, put +himself very much into the hands of a young friend of his, named +George Robinson. Who and what George Robinson was will be told in the +next chapter. + +"There are three questions," said Robinson, "to be asked and +answered.--Had Mrs. B. the power to make a will? If so, did she make +a will? And if so, what was the will she made?" + +Mr. Brown couldn't remember whether or no there had been any signing +of papers at his marriage. A good deal of rum and water, he said, had +been drunk; and there might have been signing too,--but he didn't +remember it. + +Then there was the search for the will. This was supposed to be in +the hands of one Brisket, a butcher, for whom it was known Mrs. +McCockerell had destined the hand of her younger daughter. Mr. +Brisket had been a great favourite with the old lady, and she had +often been heard to declare that he should have the wife and money, +or the money without the wife. This she said to coerce Maryanne into +the match. + +But Brisket, when questioned, declared that he had no will in his +possession. At this time he kept aloof from the house and showed no +disposition to meddle with the affairs of the family. Indeed, all +through these trying days he behaved honestly, if not with high +feeling. In recounting the doings of Brown, Jones, and Robinson, it +will sometimes be necessary to refer to Mr. Brisket. He shall always +be spoken of as an honest man. He did all that in him lay to mar the +bright hopes of one who was perhaps not the most insignificant of +that firm. He destroyed the matrimonial hopes of Mr. Robinson, and +left him to wither like a blighted trunk on a lone waste. But he was, +nevertheless, an honest man, and so much shall be said of him. Let us +never forget that "An honest man is the noblest work of God." + +Brisket, when asked, said that he had no will, and that he knew of +none. In fact there was no will forthcoming, and there is no doubt +that the old woman was cut off before she had made one. It may also +be premised that had she made one it would have been invalid, seeing +that Mr. Brown, as husband, was, in fact, the owner of the whole +affair. + +Sarah Jane and Maryanne, when they found that no document was +forthcoming, immediately gave out that they intended to take on +themselves the duties of joint heiresses, and an alliance, offensive +and defensive, was sworn between them. At this time Mr. Brown +employed a lawyer, and the heiresses, together with Jones, employed +another. There could be no possible doubt as to Mr. Brown being the +owner of the property, however infatuated on such a subject Jones and +his wife may have been. No lawyer in London could have thought that +the young women had a leg to stand upon. Nevertheless, the case was +undertaken, and Brown found himself in the middle of a lawsuit. Sarah +Jane and Maryanne both remained in the house in Smithfield to guard +the property on their own behalf. Mr. Brown also remained to guard it +on his behalf. The business for a time was closed. This was done in +opposition both to Mr. Brown and Maryanne; but Mrs. Jones could not +bring herself to permit the purchase of a firkin of butter, unless +the transaction could be made absolutely under her own eyes; and, +even then, she would insist on superintending the retail herself and +selling every pound, short weight. It was the custom of the trade, +she said; and to depart from it would ruin them. + +Things were in this condition, going from bad to worse, when Jones +came over one evening, and begged an interview with Mr. Brown. That +interview was the commencement of the partnership. From such small +matters do great events arise. + +At that interview Mr. Robinson was present. Mr. Brown indeed declared +that he would have no conversation with Jones on business affairs, +unless in the presence of a third party. Jones represented that if +they went on as they were now doing, the property would soon be +swallowed up by the lawyers. To this Mr. Brown, whose forte was not +eloquence, tacitly assented with a deep groan. + +"Then," said Jones, "let us divide it into three portions. You shall +have one; Sarah Jane a second; and I will manage the third on behalf +of my sister-in-law, Maryanne. If we arrange it well, the lawyers +will never get a shilling." + +The idea of a compromise appeared to Mr. Brown to be not +uncommendable; but a compromise on such terms as those could not of +course be listened to. Robinson strongly counselled him to nail his +colours to the mast, and kick Mr. Jones downstairs. But Mr. Brown had +not spirit for this. + +"One's children is one's children," said he to Robinson, when they +went apart into the shop to talk the matter over. "The fruit of one's +loins, and the prop of one's age." + +Robinson could not help thinking that Sarah Jane was about as bad a +prop as any that ever a man leant on; but he was too generous to say +so. The matter was ended at last by a compromise. "Go on with the +business together," said Robinson; "Mr. Brown keeping, of course, a +preponderating share in his own hands." + +"I don't like butter," said Jones. "Nothing great can be done in +butter." + +"It is a very safe line," said Mr. Brown, "if the connection is +good." + +"The connection must have been a good deal damaged," said Robinson, +"seeing that the shop has been closed for a fortnight. Besides, it's +a woman's business;--and you have no woman to manage it," added he, +fearing that Mrs. Jones might be brought in, to the detriment of all +concerned. + +Jones suggested haberdashery; Robinson, guided by a strong idea +that there is a more absolute opening for the advertising line in +haberdashery than in any other business, assented. + +"Then let it be haberdashery," said Mr. Brown, with a sigh. And so +that was settled. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE EARLY HISTORY OF MR. ROBINSON. + + +And haberdashery it was. But here it may be as well to say a few +words as to Mr. Robinson, and to explain how he became a member of +the firm. He had been in his boyhood,--a bill-sticker; and he defies +the commercial world to show that he ever denied it. In his earlier +days he carried the paste and pole, and earned a livelihood by +putting up notices of theatrical announcements on the hoardings of +the metropolis. There was, however, that within him which Nature +did not intend to throw away on the sticking of bills, as was found +out quickly enough by those who employed him. The lad, while he was +running the streets with his pole in his hand, and his pot round his +neck, learned first to read, and then to write what others might +read. From studying the bills which he carried, he soon took to +original composition; and it may be said of him, that in fluency of +language and richness of imagery few surpassed him. In person Mr. +Robinson was a genteel young man, though it cannot be said of him +that he possessed manly beauty. He was slight and active, intelligent +in his physiognomy, and polite in his demeanour. Perhaps it may be +unnecessary to say anything further on this head. + +Mr. Robinson had already established himself as an author in his +own line, and was supporting himself decently by his own unaided +abilities, when he first met Maryanne Brown in the Regent's Park. +She was then walking with her sister, and resolutely persisted in +disregarding all those tokens of admiration which he found himself +unable to restrain. + +There certainly was a dash about Maryanne Brown that at certain +moments was invincible. Hooped petticoats on the back of her sister +looked like hoops, and awkward hoops. They were angular, lopsided, +and lumpy. But Maryanne wore her hoops as a duchess wears her +crinoline. Her well-starched muslin dress would swell off from her +waist in a manner that was irresistible to George Robinson. "Such +grouping!" as he said to his friend Walker. "Such a flow of drapery! +such tournure! Ah, my dear fellow, the artist's eye sees these things +at a glance." And then, walking at a safe distance, he kept his eyes +on them. + +"I'm sure that fellow's following us," said Sarah Jane, looking back +at him with all her scorn. + +"There's no law against that, I suppose," said Maryanne, tartly. So +much as that Mr. Robinson did succeed in hearing. + +The girls entered their mother's house; but as they did so, Maryanne +lingered for a moment in the doorway. Was it accident, or was it not? +Did the fair girl choose to give her admirer one chance, or was it +that she was careful not to crush her starch by too rapid an entry? + +"I shall be in Regent's Park on Sunday afternoon," whispered +Robinson, as he passed by the house, with his hand to his mouth. It +need hardly be said that the lady vouchsafed him no reply. + +On the following Sunday George Robinson was again in the park, +and after wandering among its rural shades for half a day, he was +rewarded by seeing the goddess of his idolatry. Miss Brown was there +with a companion, but not with Sarah Jane. He had already, as though +by instinct, conceived in his heart as powerful an aversion for one +sister as affection for the other, and his delight was therefore +unbounded when he saw that she he loved was there, while she he hated +was away. + +'Twere long to tell, at the commencement of this narrative, how a +courtship was commenced and carried on; how Robinson sighed, at first +in vain and then not in vain; how good-natured was Miss Twizzle, the +bosom friend of Maryanne; and how Robinson for a time walked and +slept and fed on roses. + +There was at that time a music class held at a certain elegant room +near Osnaburgh Church in the New Road, at which Maryanne and her +friend Miss Twizzle were accustomed to attend. Those lessons were +sometimes prosecuted in the evening, and those evening studies +sometimes resulted in a little dance. We may say that after a while +that was their habitual tendency, and that the lady pupils were +permitted to introduce their male friends on condition that the +gentlemen paid a shilling each for the privilege. It was in that room +that George Robinson passed the happiest hours of his chequered +existence. He was soon expert in all the figures of the mazy dance, +and was excelled by no one in the agility of his step or the +endurance of his performances. It was by degrees rumoured about +that he was something higher than he seemed to be, and those best +accustomed to the place used to call him the Poet. It must be +remembered that at this time Mrs. McCockerell was still alive, and +that as Sarah Jane had then become Mrs. Jones, Maryanne was her +mother's favourite, and destined to receive all her mother's gifts. +Of the name and person of William Brisket, George Robinson was then +in happy ignorance, and the first introduction between them took +place in the Hall of Harmony. + +'Twas about eleven o'clock in the evening, when the light feet of +the happy dancers had already been active for some hour or so in the +worship of their favourite muse, that Robinson was standing up with +his arm round his fair one's waist, immediately opposite to the door +of entrance. His right arm still embraced her slight girdle, whilst +with his left hand he wiped the perspiration from his brow. She +leaned against him palpitating, for the motion of the music had been +quick, and there had been some amicable contest among the couples. +It is needless to say that George Robinson and Maryanne Brown had +suffered no defeat. At that moment a refreshing breeze of the night +air was wafted into the room from the opened door, and Robinson, +looking up, saw before him a sturdy, thickset man, with mottled beefy +face, and by his side there stood a spectre. "It's your sister," +whispered he to Maryanne, in a tone of horror. + +"Oh, laws! there's Bill," said she, and then she fainted. The +gentleman with the mottled face was indeed no other than Mr. Brisket, +the purveyor of meat, for whose arms Mrs. McCockerell had destined +the charms of her younger daughter. Conduct baser than that of Mrs. +Jones on this occasion is not perhaps recorded in history. She was no +friend of Brisket's. She had it not at heart to forward her mother's +views. At this period of their lives she and her mother never met. +But she had learned her sister's secret, and having it in her +power to crush her sister's happiness, had availed herself of the +opportunity. + +"There he is," said she, quite aloud, so that the whole room should +hear. "He's a bill-sticker!" and she pointed the finger of scorn at +her sister's lover. + +"I'm one who have always earned my own living," said Robinson, "and +never had occasion to hang on to any one." This he said knowing that +Jones's lodgings were paid for by Mr. Brown. + +Hereupon Mr. Brisket walked across the room, and as he walked there +was a cloud of anger on his brow. "Perhaps, young man," he said,--and +as he spoke he touched Robinson on the shoulder,--"perhaps, young +man, you wouldn't mind having a few words with me outside the door." + +"Sir," said the other with some solemnity, "I am not aware that I +have the honour of your acquaintance." + +"I'm William Brisket, butcher," said he; "and if you don't come out +when I asks you, by jingo, I'll carry you." + +The lady had fainted. The crowd of dancers was standing round, with +inquiring faces. That female spectre repeated the odious words, still +pointing at him with her finger, "He's a bill-sticker!" Brisket was +full fourteen stone, whereas Robinson might perhaps be ten. What was +Robinson to do? "Are you going to walk out, or am I going to carry +you?" said the Hercules of the slaughter-house. + +"I will do anything," said Robinson, "to relieve a lady's +embarrassment." + +They walked out on to the landing-place, whither not a few of the +gentlemen and some of the ladies followed them. + +"I say, young man," said Brisket, "do you know who that young woman +is?" + +"I certainly have the honour of her acquaintance," said Robinson. + +"But perhaps you haven't the honour of knowing that she's my +wife,--as is to be. Now you know it." And then the coarse monster +eyed him from head to foot. "Now you may go home to your mother," +said he. "But don't tell her anything of it, because it's a secret." + +He was fifteen stone at least, and Robinson was hardly ten. Oh, how +vile is the mastery which matter still has over mind in many of the +concerns of life! How can a man withstand the assault of a bull? What +was Robinson to do? He walked downstairs into the street, leaving +Maryanne behind with the butcher. + +Some days after this he contrived a meeting with his love, and he +then learned the history of that engagement. "She hated Brisket," +she said. "He was odious to her. He was always greasy and smelt of +meat;--but he had a respectable business." + +"And is my Maryanne mercenary?" asked Robinson. + +"Now, George," said she, "it's no use you scolding me, and I won't be +scolded. Ma says that I must be civil to him, and I'm not going to +quarrel with ma. At any rate not yet." + +"But surely, Maryanne--" + +"It's no good you surelying me, George, for I won't be surelyed. If +you don't like me you can leave me." + +"Maryanne, I adore you." + +"That's all very well, and I hope you do; but why did you make a row +with that man the other night?" + +"But, dearest love, he made the row with me." + +"And when you did make it," continued Maryanne, "why didn't you see +it out?" Robinson did not find it easy to answer this accusation. +That matter has still dominion over mind, though the days are coming +when mind shall have dominion over matter, was a lesson which, in +after days, it would be sweet to teach her. But at the present moment +the time did not serve for such teaching. "A man must look after his +own, George, or else he'll go to the wall," she said, with a sneer. +And then he parted from her in anger. + +But his love did not on that account wax cool, and so in his misery +he had recourse to their mutual friend, Miss Twizzle. "The truth is +this," said Miss Twizzle, "I believe she'd take him, because he's +respectable and got a business." + +"He's horribly vulgar," said Robinson. + +"Oh, bother!" said Miss Twizzle. "I know nothing about that. He's got +a business, and whoever marries Brisket won't have to look for a bed +to sleep on. But there's a hitch about the money." + +Then Mr. Robinson learned the facts. Mrs. McCockerell, as she was +still called, had promised to give her daughter five hundred pounds +as her marriage portion, but Mr. Brisket would not go to the altar +till he got the money. "He wanted to extend himself," he said, "and +would not marry till he saw his way." Hence had arisen that delay +which Maryanne had solaced by her attendance at the music-hall. + +"But if you're in earnest," said Miss Twizzle, "don't you be down on +your luck. Go to old Brown, and make friends with him. He'll stand up +for you, because he knows his wife favours Brisket." + +George Robinson did go to Mr. Brown, and on the father the young +man's eloquence was not thrown away. "She shall be yours, Mr. +Robinson," he said, after the first fortnight. "But we must be very +careful with Mrs. B." + +After the second fortnight Mrs. B. was no more! And in this way it +came to pass that George Robinson was present as Mr. Brown's adviser +when that scheme respecting the haberdashery was first set on foot. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +NINE TIMES NINE IS EIGHTY-ONE. SHOWING HOW BROWN, JONES, AND ROBINSON +SELECTED THEIR HOUSE OF BUSINESS. + + +And haberdashery it was. But there was much yet to be done before any +terms for a partnership could be settled. Mr. Jones at first insisted +that he and his father-in-law should begin business on equal terms. +He considered that any questions as to the actual right in the +property would be mean after their mutual agreement to start in the +world as friends. But to this Mr. Brown, not unnaturally, objected. + +"Then I shall go back to my lawyer," said Jones. Whereupon he did +leave the room, taking his hat with him; but he remained below in the +old shop. + +"If I am to go into partnership with that man alone," said Mr. Brown, +turning to his young friend almost in despair, "I may prepare for the +Gazette at once.--And for my grave!" he added, solemnly. + +"I'll join you," said Robinson. "I haven't got any money. You know +that. But then neither has he." + +"I wish you had a little," said Mr. Brown. "Capital is capital, you +know." + +"But I've got that which is better than capital," said Robinson, +touching his forehead with his forefinger. "And if you'll trust me, +Mr. Brown, I won't see you put upon." The promise which Mr. Robinson +then gave he kept ever afterwards with a marked fidelity. + +"I will trust you," said Mr. Brown. "It shall be Brown, Jones, and +Robinson." + +"And Brown, Jones, and Robinson shall carry their heads high among +the greatest commercial firms of this wealthy metropolis," said +Robinson, with an enthusiasm which was surely pardonable at such a +moment. + +Mr. Jones soon returned with another compromise; but it was of a low, +peddling nature. It had reference to sevenths and eighths, and went +into the payments of the household bills. "I, as one of the partners, +must object to any such arrangements," said Robinson. + +"You!--you one of the partners!" said Jones. + +"If you have no objection--certainly!" said Robinson. "And if you +should have any objection,--equally so." + +"You!--a bill-sticker!" said Jones. + +In the presence of William Brisket, George Robinson had been forced +to acknowledge that matter must still occasionally prevail over mind; +but he felt no such necessity in the presence of Jones. "I'll tell +you what it is," said Robinson; "I've never denied my former calling. +Among friends I often talk about it. But mind you, Mr. Jones, I won't +bear it from you! I'm not very big myself, but I think I could stand +up before you!" + +But in this quarrel they were stopped by Mr. Brown. "Let dogs +delight," he said or sung, "to bark and bite;--" and then he raised +his two fat hands feebly, as though deprecating any further wrath. +As usual on such occasions Mr. Robinson yielded, and then explained +in very concise language the terms on which it was proposed that the +partnership should be opened. Mr. Brown should put his "capital" into +the business, and be entitled to half the profits. Mr. Jones and Mr. +Robinson should give the firm the advantage of their youth, energies, +and genius, and should each be held as the possessor of a quarter. +That Mr. Jones made long and fierce objections to this, need hardly +be stated. It is believed that he did, more than once, go back to his +lawyer. But Mr. Brown, who, for the time, put himself into the hands +of his youngest partner, remained firm, and at last the preliminaries +were settled. + +The name of the house, the nature of the business, and the shares of +the partners were now settled, and the site of the future labours of +the firm became the next question. Mr. Brown was in favour of a small +tenement in Little Britain, near to the entrance into Smithfield. + +"There would not be scope there," said Robinson. + +"And no fashion," said Jones. + +"It's safe and respectable," pleaded Mr. Brown. "There have been +shops in Little Britain these sixty years in the same families." + +But Robinson was of opinion that the fortunes of the firm might +not improbably be made in six, if only they would commence with +sufficient distinction. He had ascertained that large and commanding +premises might be had in St. Paul's Churchyard, in the frontage +of which the square feet of plate glass could be counted by the +hundred. It was true that the shop was nearly all window; but then, +as Mr. Robinson said, an extended front of glass was the one thing +necessary. And it was true also that the future tenants must pay down +a thousand pounds before they entered;--but then, as he explained, +how could they better expend the trifle of money which they +possessed? + +"Trifle of money!" said Mr. Brown, thinking of the mountains of +butter and years of economy which had been required to put together +those four thousand pounds;--thinking also, perhaps, of the absolute +impecuniosity of his young partner who thus spoke. + +Jones was for the West End and Regent Street. There was a shop only +two doors off Regent Street, which could be made to look as if it +was almost in Regent Street. The extension of a side piece of plate +glass would show quite into Regent Street. He even prepared a card, +describing the house as "2 doors from Regent Street," printing the +figure and the words "Regent Street" very large, and the intermediate +description very small. It was ever by such stale, inefficient +artifices as these that he sought success. + +"Who'll care for your card?" said Robinson. "When a man's card comes +to be of use to him, the thing's done. He's living in his villa by +that time, and has his five thousand a-year out of the profits." + +"I hope you'll both have your willas before long," said Brown, trying +to keep his partners in good humour. "But a cottage _horney_ will be +enough for me. I'd like to be able to give my children their bit of +dinner on Sunday hot and comfortable. I want no more than that." + +That was a hard battle, and it resulted in no victory. The dingy shop +in Little Britain was, of course, out of the question; and Mr. Brown +assisted Robinson in preventing that insane attempt at aping the +unprofitable glories of Regent Street. The matter ended in another +compromise, and a house was taken in Bishopsgate Street, of which +the frontage was extensive and commanding, but as to which it must +certainly be confessed that the back part of the premises was +inconveniently confined. + +"It isn't exactly all I could wish," said Robinson, standing on +the pavement as he surveyed it. "But it will do. With a little +originality and some dash, we'll make it do. We must give it a name." + +"A name?" said Mr. Brown; "it's 81, Bishopsgate Street; ain't it? +They don't call houses names in London." + +"That's just why we'll have a name for ours, Mr. Brown." + +"The 'Albert Emporium,'" suggested Jones; "or 'Victoria Mart.'" + +Mr. Jones, as will be seen, was given to tuft-hunting to the +backbone. His great ambition was to have a lion and unicorn, and to +call himself haberdasher to a royal prince. He had never realized the +fact that profit, like power, comes from the people, and not from +the court. "I wouldn't put up the Queen's arms if the Queen came and +asked me," Robinson once said in answer to him. "That game has been +played out, and it isn't worth the cost of the two wooden figures." + +"'The Temple of Fashion' would do very well," said Jones. + +"The Temple of Fiddlestick!" said Robinson. + +"Of course you say so," said Jones. + +"Let dogs delight--" began Mr. Brown, standing as we were in the +middle of the street. + +"I'll tell you what," said Robinson; "there's nothing like colour. +We'll call it Magenta House, and we'll paint it magenta from the roof +to the window tops." + +This beautiful tint had only then been invented, and it was necessary +to explain the word to Mr. Brown. He merely remarked that the oil and +paint would come to a deal of money, and then gave way. Jones was +struck dumb by the brilliancy of the idea, and for once forgot to +object. + +"And, I'll tell you what," said Robinson--"nine times nine is +eighty-one." + +"Certainly, certainly," said Mr. Brown, who delighted to agree +with his younger partner when circumstances admitted it. "You are +right there, certainly." Jones was observed to go through the +multiplication table mentally, but he could detect no error. + +"Nine times nine is eighty-one," repeated Robinson with confidence, +"and we'll put that fact up over the first-floor windows." + +And so they did. The house was painted magenta colour from top to +bottom. And on the front in very large figures and letters, was +stated the undoubted fact that nine times nine is 81. "If they +will only call us 'The nine times nine,' the thing is done," said +Robinson. Nevertheless, the house was christened Magenta House. "And +now about glass," said Robinson, when the three had retired to the +little back room within. + +Mr. Robinson, however, admitted afterwards that he was wrong about +the colour and the number. Such methods of obtaining attention +were, he said, too easy of imitation, and devoid of any inherent +attraction of their own. People would not care for nine times nine in +Bishopsgate Street, if there were nine times nines in other streets +as well. "No," said he; "I was but beginning, and made errors as +beginners do. Outside there should be glass, gas, gold, and glare. +Inside there should be the same, with plenty of brass, and if +possible a little wit. If those won't do it, nothing will." All +the same the magenta colour and the nine times nine did have their +effect. "Nine times nine is eighty-one," was printed on the top of +all the flying advertisements issued by the firm, and the printing +was all done in magenta. + +Mr. Brown groaned sorely over the expenditure that was necessary in +preparation of the premises. His wish was that this should be paid +for in ready money; and indeed it was necessary that this should +be done to a certain extent. But the great object should have been +to retain every available shilling for advertisements. In the way +of absolute capital,--money to be paid for stock,--4,000_l._ was +nothing. But 4,000_l._ scattered broadcast through the metropolis on +walls, omnibuses, railway stations, little books, pavement chalkings, +illuminated notices, porters' backs, gilded cars, and men in armour, +would have driven nine times nine into the memory of half the +inhabitants of London. The men in armour were tried. Four suits were +obtained in Poland Street, and four strong men were hired who rode +about town all day on four brewers' horses. They carried poles with +large banners, and on the banners were inscribed the words which +formed the shibboleth of the firm;-- + + + _MAGENTA HOUSE_, + 9 TIMES 9 IS 81, + BISHOPSGATE STREET. + + +And four times a day these four men in armour met each other in front +of the windows of the house, and stood there on horseback for fifteen +minutes, with their backs to the curbstone. The forage, however, of +the horses became so terribly large an item of expenditure that Mr. +Brown's heart failed him. His heart failed him, and he himself went +off late one evening to the livery stable-keeper who supplied the +horses, and in Mr. Robinson's absence, the armour was sent back to +Poland Street. + +"We should have had the police down upon us, George," said Mr. Brown, +deprecating the anger of his younger partner. + +"And what better advertisement could you have wished?" said Robinson. +"It would have been in all the papers, and have cost nothing." + +"But you don't know, George, what them beastesses was eating! It +was frightful to hear of! Four-and-twenty pounds of corn a day +each of 'em, because the armour was so uncommon heavy." The men in +armour were then given up, but they certainly were beginning to +be effective. At 6 P.M., when the men were there, it had become +impossible to pass the shop without going into the middle of the +street, and on one or two occasions the policemen had spoken to +Mr. Brown. Then there was a slight accident with a child, and the +newspapers had interfered. + +But we are anticipating the story, for the men in armour did not +begin their operations till the shop had been opened. + +"And now about glass," said Robinson, as soon as the three partners +had retired from the outside flags into the interior of the house. + +"It must be plate, of course," said Jones. Plate! He might as well +have said when wanting a house, that it must have walls. + +"I rather think so," said Robinson; "and a good deal of it." + +"I don't mind a good-sized common window," said Brown. + +"A deal better have them uncommon," said Robinson, interrupting him. +"And remember, sir, there's nothing like glass in these days. It has +superseded leather altogether in that respect." + +"Leather!" said Mr. Brown, who was hardly quick enough for his junior +partner. + +"Of all our materials now in general use," said Robinson, "glass +is the most brilliant, and yet the cheapest; the most graceful and +yet the strongest. Though transparent it is impervious to wet. The +eye travels through it, but not the hailstorm. To the power of +gas it affords no obstacle, but is as efficient a barrier against +the casualties of the street as an iron shutter. To that which is +ordinary it lends a grace; and to that which is graceful it gives a +double lustre. Like a good advertisement, it multiplies your stock +tenfold, and like a good servant, it is always eloquent in praise of +its owner. I look upon plate glass, sir, as the most glorious product +of the age; and I regard the tradesman who can surround himself with +the greatest quantity of it, as the most in advance of the tradesmen +of his day. Oh, sir, whatever we do, let us have glass." + +"It's beautiful to hear him talk," said Mr. Brown; "but it's the bill +I'm a thinking of." + +"If you will only go enough ahead, Mr. Brown, you'll find that nobody +will trouble you with such bills." + +"But they must be paid some day, George." + +"Of course they must; but it will never do to think of that now. +In twelve months or so, when we have set the house well going, the +payment of such bills as that will be a mere nothing,--a thing that +will be passed as an item not worth notice. Faint heart never won +fair lady, you know, Mr. Brown." And then a cloud came across George +Robinson's brow as he thought of the words he had spoken; for his +heart had once been faint, and his fair lady was by no means won. + +"That's quite true," said Jones; "it never does. Ha! ha! ha!" + +Then the cloud went away from George Robinson's brow, and a stern +frown of settled resolution took its place. At that moment he made up +his mind, that when he might again meet that giant butcher he would +forget the difference in their size, and accost him as though they +two were equal. What though some fell blow, levelled as at an ox, +should lay him low for ever. Better that, than endure from day to day +the unanswered taunts of such a one as Jones! + +Mr. Brown, though he was not quick-witted, was not deficient when the +feelings of man and man were concerned. He understood it all, and +taking advantage of a moment when Jones had stepped up the shop, he +pressed Robinson's hand and said,--"You shall have her, George. If +a father's word is worth anything, you shall have her." But in this +case,--as in so many others,--a father's word was not worth anything. + +"But to business!" said Robinson, shaking off from him all thoughts +of love. + +After that Mr. Brown had not the heart to oppose him respecting the +glass, and in that matter he had everything nearly his own way. The +premises stood advantageously at the comer of a little alley, so that +the window was made to jut out sideways in that direction, and a +full foot and a half was gained. On the other side the house did not +stand flush with its neighbour,--as is not unfrequently the case in +Bishopsgate Street,--and here also a few inches were made available. +The next neighbour, a quiet old man who sold sticks, threatened a +lawsuit; but that, had it been instituted, would have got into the +newspapers and been an advertisement. There was considerable trouble +about the entrance. A wide, commanding centre doorway was essential; +but this, if made in the desirable proportions, would have terribly +crippled the side windows. To obviate this difficulty, the exterior +space allotted for the entrance between the frontage of the two +windows was broad and noble, but the glass splayed inwards towards +the shop, so that the absolute door was decidedly narrow. + +"When we come to have a crowd, they won't get in and out," said +Jones. + +"If we could only crush a few to death in the doorway our fortune +would be made," said Robinson. + +"God forbid!" said Mr. Brown; "God forbid! Let us have no bloodshed, +whatever we do." + +In about a month the house was completed, and much to the regret of +both the junior partners, a considerable sum of ready money was paid +to the tradesmen who performed the work. Mr. Jones was of opinion +that by sufficient cunning such payments might be altogether evaded. +No such thought rested for a moment in the bosom of Mr. Robinson. All +tradesmen should be paid, and paid well. But the great firm of Brown, +Jones, and Robinson would be much less likely to scrutinize the price +at which plate glass was charged to them per square foot, when they +were taking their hundreds a day over the counter, than they would be +now when every shilling was of importance to them. + +"For their own sake you shouldn't do it," said he to Mr. Brown. "You +may be quite sure they don't like it." + +"I always liked it myself," said Mr. Brown. And thus he would make +little dribbling payments, by which an unfortunate idea was generated +in the neighbourhood that money was not plentiful with the firm. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE DIVISION OF LABOUR. + + +There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that +the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of +advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, +being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the +expectations raised by those advertisements. + +"But, George, we must have something to sell," said Mr. Brown, almost +in despair. He did not then understand, and never since has learned +the secrets of that commercial science which his younger partner was +at so much pains to teach. There are things which no elderly man can +learn; and there are lessons which are full of light for the new +recruit, but dark as death to the old veteran. + +"It will be so doubtless with me also," said Robinson, soliloquizing +on the subject in his melancholy mood. "The day will come when I too +must be pushed from my stool by the workings of younger genius, and +shall sink, as poor Mr. Brown is now sinking, into the foggy depths +of fogeydom. But a man who is a man--" and then that melancholy mood +left him, "can surely make his fortune before that day comes. When +a merchant is known to be worth half a million, his fogeydom is +respected." + +That necessity of having something to sell almost overcame Mr. Brown +in those days. "What's the good of putting down 5,000 Kolinski +and Minx Boas in the bill, if we don't possess one in the shop?" +he asked; "we must have some if they're asked for." He could not +understand that for a first start effect is everything. If customers +should want Kolinski Boas, Kolinski Boas would of course be +forthcoming,--to any number required; either Kolinski Boas, or quasi +Kolinski, which in trade is admitted to be the same thing. When a man +advertises that he has 40,000 new paletots, he does not mean that he +has got that number packed up in a box. If required to do so, he will +supply them to that extent,--or to any further extent. A long row +of figures in trade is but an elegant use of the superlative. If a +tradesman can induce a lady to buy a diagonal Osnabruck cashmere +shawl by telling her that he has 1,200 of them, who is injured? And +if the shawl is not exactly a real diagonal Osnabruck cashmere, what +harm is done as long as the lady gets the value for her money? And if +she don't get the value for her money, whose fault is that? Isn't it +a fair stand-up fight? And when she tries to buy for 4_l._, a shawl +which she thinks is worth about 8_l._, isn't she dealing on the same +principles herself? If she be lucky enough to possess credit, the +shawl is sent home without payment, and three years afterwards fifty +per cent. is perhaps offered for settlement of the bill. It is a fair +fight, and the ladies are very well able to take care of themselves. + +And Jones also thought they must have something to sell. "Money is +money," said he, "and goods is goods. What's the use of windows if we +haven't anything to dress them? And what's the use of capital unless +we buy a stock?" + +With Mr. Jones, George Robinson never cared to argue. The absolute +impossibility of pouring the slightest ray of commercial light into +the dim chaos of that murky mind had long since come home to him. He +merely shook his head, and went on with the composition on which he +was engaged. It need hardly be explained here that he had no idea +of encountering the public throng on their opening day, without an +adequate assortment of goods. Of course there must be shawls and +cloaks; of course there must be muffs and boas; of course there must +be hose and handkerchiefs. That dressing of the windows was to be the +special care of Mr. Jones, and Robinson would take care that there +should be the wherewithal. The dressing of the windows, and the +parading of the shop, was to be the work of Jones. His ambition had +never soared above that, and while serving in the house on Snow +Hill, his utmost envy had been excited by the youthful aspirant who +there walked the boards, and with an oily courtesy handed chairs to +the ladies. For one short week he had been allowed to enter this +Paradise. "And though I looked so sweet on them," said he, "I always +had my eye on them. It's a grand thing to be down on a well-dressed +woman as she's hiding a roll of ribbon under her cloak." That was his +idea of grandeur! + +A stock of goods was of course necessary, but if the firm could +only get their name sufficiently established, that matter would be +arranged simply by written orders to two or three wholesale houses. +Competition, that beautiful science of the present day, by which +every plodding cart-horse is converted into a racer, makes this easy +enough. When it should once become known that a firm was opening +itself on a great scale in a good thoroughfare, and advertising on +real, intelligible principles, there would be no lack of goods. + +"You can have any amount of hose you want, out of Cannon Street," +said Mr. Robinson, "in forty-five minutes. They can be brought in at +the back while you are selling them over the counter." + +"Can they?" said Mr. Brown: "perhaps they can. But nevertheless, +George, I think I'll buy a few. It'll be an ease to my mind." + +He did so; but it was a suicidal act on his part. One thing was quite +clear, even to Mr. Jones. If the firm commenced business to the +extent which they contemplated, it was out of the question that +they should do everything on the ready-money principle. That such a +principle is antiquated, absurd, and uncommercial; that it is opposed +to the whole system of trade as now adopted in this metropolis, +has been clearly shown in the preface to these memoirs. But in +this instance, in the case of Brown, Jones, and Robinson, the +doing so was as impracticable as it would have been foolish, if +practicable. Credit and credit only was required. But of all modes of +extinguishing credit, of crushing, as it were, the young baby in its +cradle, there is none equal to that of spending a little ready money, +and then halting. In trade as in love, to doubt,--or rather, to seem +to doubt,--is to be lost. When you order goods, do so as though the +bank were at your back. Look your victim full in the face, and write +down your long numbers without a falter in your pen. And should there +seem a hesitation on his part, do not affect to understand it. When +the articles are secured, you give your bill at six months' date; +then your credit at your bankers,--your discount system,--commences. +That is another affair. When once your bank begins that with +you,--and the banks must do so, or they may put up their +shutters,--when once your bank has commenced, it must carry on the +game. You are floated then, placed well in the centre of the full +stream of commerce, and it must be your own fault if you do not +either retire with half a million, or become bankrupt with an éclat, +which is worth more than any capital in refitting you for a further +attempt. In the meantime it need hardly be said that you yourself are +living on the very fat of the land. + +But birds of a feather should flock together, and Mr. Brown and Mr. +Robinson were not exactly of the same plumage. + +It was finally arranged that Mr. Robinson should have carte blanche +at his own particular line of business, to the extent of fifteen +hundred pounds, and that Mr. Brown should go into the warehouse and +lay out a similar sum in goods. Both Jones and Mrs. Jones accompanied +the old man, and a sore time he had of it. It may here be remarked +that Mrs. Jones struggled very hard to get a footing in the shop, but +on this point it should be acknowledged that her husband did his duty +for a while. + +"It must be you or I, Sarah Jane," said he; "but not both." + +"I have no objection in life," said she; "you can stay at home, if +you please." + +"By no means," he replied. "If you come here, and your father permits +it, I shall go to America. Of course the firm will allow me for my +share." She tried it on very often after that, and gave the firm much +trouble, but I don't think she got her hand into the cash drawer +above once or twice during the first twelve months. + +The division of labour was finally arranged as follows. Mr. Brown +was to order the goods; to hire the young men and women, look after +their morality, and pay them their wages; to listen to any special +applications when a desire might be expressed to see the firm; and +to do the heavy respectable parental business. There was a little +back room with a sky-light, in which he was to sit; and when he was +properly got up, his manner of shaking his head at the young people +who misbehaved themselves, was not ineffective. There is always +danger when young men and women are employed together in the same +shop, and if possible this should be avoided. It is not in human +nature that they should not fall in love, or at any rate amuse +themselves with ordinary flirtations. Now the rule is that not a word +shall be spoken that does not refer to business. "Miss O'Brien, where +is the salmon-coloured sarsenet? or, Mr. Green, I'll trouble you for +the ladies' sevens." Nothing is ever spoken beyond that. "Morals, +morals, above everything!" Mr. Brown was once heard to shout from his +little room, when a whisper had been going round the shop as to a +concerted visit to the Crystal Palace. Why a visit to the Crystal +Palace should be immoral, when talked of over the counter, Mr. Brown +did not explain on that occasion. + +"A very nice set of young women," the compiler of these memoirs once +remarked to a commercial gentleman in a large way, who was showing +him over his business, "and for the most part very good-looking." + +"Yes, sir, yes; we attend to their morals especially. They generally +marry from us, and become the happy mothers of families." + +"Ah," said I, really delighted in my innocence. "They've excellent +opportunities for that, because there are so many decent young men +about." + +He turned on me as though I had calumniated his establishment with a +libel of the vilest description. "If a whisper of such a thing ever +reaches us, sir," said he, quite alive with virtuous indignation; +"if such a suspicion is ever engendered, we send them packing at +once! The morals of our young women, sir--" And then he finished his +sentence simply by a shake of his head. I tried to bring him into an +argument, and endeavoured to make him understand that no young woman +can become a happy wife unless she first be allowed to have a lover. +He merely shook his head, and at last stamped his foot. "Morals, +sir!" he repeated. "Morals above everything. In such an establishment +as this, if we are not moral, we are nothing." I supposed he was +right, but it seemed to me to be very hard on the young men and +women. I could only hope that they walked home together in the +evening. + +In the new firm in Bishopsgate Street, Mr. Brown, of course, took +upon himself that branch of business, and some little trouble he +had, because his own son-in-law and partner would make eyes to the +customers. + +"Mr. Jones," he once said before them all; "you'll bring down my gray +hairs with sorrow to the grave; you will, indeed." And then he put up +his fat hand, and gently stroked the white expanse of his bald pate. +But that was a very memorable occasion. + +Such was Mr. Brown's business. To Mr. Jones was allocated the +duty of seeing that the shop was duly dressed, of looking after +the customers, including that special duty of guarding against +shop-lifting, and of attending generally to the retail business. It +cannot be denied that for this sort of work he had some specialties. +His eye was sharp, and his ear was keen, and his feelings were blunt. +In a certain way, he was good-looking, and he knew how to hand +a chair with a bow and smile, which went far with the wives and +daughters of the East End little tradesmen,--and he was active enough +at his work. He was usually to be seen standing in the front of the +shop, about six yards within the door, rubbing his hands together, or +arranging his locks, or twiddling with his brass watch-chain. Nothing +disconcerted him, unless his wife walked into the place; and then, +to the great delight of the young men and women, he was unable to +conceal his misery. By them he was hated,--as was perhaps necessary +in his position. He was a tyrant, who liked to feel at every moment +the relish of his power. To the poor girls he was cruel, treating +them as though they were dirt beneath his feet. For Mr. Jones, though +he affected the reputation of an admirer of the fair sex, never +forgot himself by being even civil to a female who was his paid +servant. Woman's smile had a charm for him, but no charm equal to the +servility of dependence. + +But on the shoulders of Mr. Robinson fell the great burden of the +business. There was a question as to the accounts; these, however, he +undertook to keep in his leisure moments, thinking but little of the +task. But the work of his life was to be the advertising department. +He was to draw up the posters; he was to write those little books +which, printed on magenta-coloured paper, were to be thrown with +reckless prodigality into every vehicle in the town; he was to +arrange new methods of alluring the public into that emporium of +fashion. It was for him to make a credulous multitude believe that +at that shop, number Nine Times Nine in Bishopsgate Street, goods of +all sorts were to be purchased at prices considerably less than the +original cost of their manufacture. This he undertook to do; this for +a time he did do; this for years to come he would have done, had he +not experienced an interference in his own department, by which the +whole firm was ultimately ruined and sent adrift. + +"The great thing is to get our bills into the hands of the public," +said Robinson. + +"You can get men for one and nine a day to stand still and hand 'em +out to the passers-by," said Mr. Brown. + +"That's stale, sir, quite stale; novelty in advertising is what we +require;--something new and startling." + +"Put a chimney-pot on the man's head," said Mr. Brown, "and make it +two and three." + +"That's been tried," said Robinson. + +"Then put two chimney-pots," said Mr. Brown. Beyond that his +imagination did not carry him. + +Chimney-pots and lanterns on men's heads avail nothing. To startle +men and women to any purpose, and drive them into Bishopsgate Street, +you must startle them a great deal. It does not suffice to create a +momentary wonder. Mr. Robinson, therefore, began with eight footmen +in full livery, with powdered hair and gold tags to their shoulders. +They had magenta-coloured plush knee-breeches, and magenta-coloured +silk stockings. It was in May, and the weather was fine, and these +eight excellently got-up London footmen were stationed at different +points in the city, each with a silken bag suspended round his +shoulder by a silken cord. From these bags they drew forth the +advertising cards of the house, and presented them to such of the +passers-by as appeared from their dress and physiognomy to be +available for the purpose. The fact has now been ascertained that +men and women who have money to spend will not put out their hands +to accept common bills from street advertisers. In an ordinary way +the money so spent is thrown away. But from these men, arrayed in +gorgeous livery, a duchess would have stayed her steps to accept a +card. And duchesses did stay their steps, and cards from the young +firm of Brown, Jones, and Robinson were, as the firm was credibly +informed, placed beneath the eyes of a very illustrious personage +indeed. + +The nature of the card was this. It was folded into three, and when +so folded, was of the size of an ordinary playing card. On the +outside, which bore a satin glaze with a magenta tint, there was a +blank space as though for an address, and the compliments of the firm +in the corner; when opened there was a separate note inside, in which +the public were informed in very few words, that "Messrs. Brown, +Jones, and Robinson were prepared to open their house on the 15th +of May, intending to carry on their trade on principles of commerce +perfectly new, and hitherto untried. The present rate of money in the +city was five per cent., and it would be the practice of the firm to +charge five and a half per cent. on every article sold by them. The +very quick return which this would give them, would enable B. J. and +R. to realize princely fortunes, and at the same time to place within +the reach of the public goods of the very best description at prices +much below any that had ever yet been quoted." This also was printed +on magenta-coloured paper, and "nine times nine is eighty-one" was +inserted both at the top and the bottom. + +On the inside of the card, on the three folds, were printed lists of +the goods offered to the public. The three headings were "cloaks and +shawls," "furs and velvets," "silks and satins;" and in a small note +at the bottom it was stated that the stock of hosiery, handkerchiefs, +ribbons, and gloves, was sufficient to meet any demand which the +metropolis could make upon the firm. + +When that list was first read out in conclave to the partners, +Mr. Brown begged almost with tears in his eyes, that it might be +modified. "George," said he, "we shall be exposed." + +"I hope we shall," said Robinson. "Exposition is all that we desire." + +"Eight thousand African monkey muffs! Oh, George, you must leave out +the monkey muffs." + +"By no means, Mr. Brown." + +"Or bring them down to a few hundreds. Two hundred African monkey +muffs would really be a great many." + +"Mr. Brown," said Robinson on that occasion;--and it may be doubted +whether he ever again spoke to the senior partner of his firm in +terms so imperious and decisive; "Mr. Brown, to you has been allotted +your share in our work, and when you insisted on throwing away our +ready money on those cheap Manchester prints, I never said a word. It +lay in your department to do so. The composition of this card lies in +mine, and I mean to exercise my own judgment." And then he went on, +"Eight thousand real African monkey muffs; six thousand ditto, ditto, +ditto, very superior, with long fine hair." Mr. Brown merely groaned, +but he said nothing further. + +"Couldn't you say that they are such as are worn by the Princess +Alice?" suggested Jones. + +"No, I could not," answered Robinson. "You may tell them that in the +shop if you please. That will lie in your department." + +In this way was the first card of the firm drawn out, and in the +space of a fortnight, nineteen thousand of them were disseminated +through the metropolis. When it is declared that each of those cards +cost B. J. and R. threepence three farthings, some idea may be formed +of the style in which they commenced their operations. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +IT IS OUR OPENING DAY. + + +And now the day had arrived on which the firm was to try the result +of their efforts. It is believed that the 15th of May in that year +will not easily be forgotten in the neighbourhood of Bishopsgate +Street. It was on this day that the experiment of the men in armour +was first tried, and the four cavaliers, all mounted and polished as +bright as brass, were stationed in the front of the house by nine +o'clock. There they remained till the doors and shop windows were +opened, which ceremony actually took place at twelve. It had been +stated to the town on the preceding day by a man dressed as Fame, +with a long horn, who had been driven about in a gilt car, that this +would be done at ten. But peeping through the iron shutters at that +hour, the gentlemen of the firm saw that the crowd was as yet by no +means great. So a huge poster was put up outside each window:-- + + + POSTPONED TILL ELEVEN. + IMMENSE PRESSURE OF GOODS IN THE BACK PREMISES. + + +At eleven this was done again; but at twelve the house was really +opened. At that time the car with Fame and the long horn was +stationed in front of the men in armour, and there really was a +considerable concourse of people. + +"This won't do, Mr. Brown," a policeman had said. "The people are +half across the street." + +"Success! success!" shouted Mr. Robinson, from the first landing on +the stairs. He was busy correcting the proofs of their second set of +notices to the public. + +"Shall we open, George?" whispered Mr. Brown, who was rather +flurried. + +"Yes; you may as well begin," said he. "It must be done sooner or +later." And then he retired quietly to his work. He had allowed +himself to be elated for one moment at the interference of the +police, but after that he remained above, absorbed in his work; or if +not so absorbed, disdaining to mix with the crowd below. For there, +in the centre of the shop, leaning on the arm of Mr. William Brisket, +stood Maryanne Brown. + +As regards grouping, there was certainly some propriety in the +arrangements made for receiving the public. When the iron shutters +were wound up, the young men of the establishment stood in a row +behind one of the counters, and the young women behind the other. +They were very nicely got up for the occasion. The girls were all +decorated with magenta-coloured ribbons, and the young men with +magenta neckties. Mr. Jones had been very anxious to charge them +for these articles in their wages, but Mr. Brown's good feeling had +prevented this. "No, Jones, no; the master always finds the livery." +There had been something in the words, master and livery, which +had tickled the ears of his son-in-law, and so the matter had been +allowed to pass by. + +In the centre of the shop stood Mr. Brown, very nicely dressed in +a new suit of black. That bald head of his, and the way he had +of rubbing his hands together, were not ill-calculated to create +respect. But on such occasions it was always necessary to induce him +to hold his tongue. Mr. Brown never spoke effectively unless he had +been first moved almost to tears. It was now his special business +to smile, and he did smile. On his right hand stood his partner +and son-in-law Jones, mounted quite irrespectively of expense. His +waistcoat and cravat may be said to have been gorgeous, and from his +silky locks there came distilled a mixed odour of musk and patchouli. +About his neck also the colours of the house were displayed, and in +his hand he waved a magenta handkerchief. His wife was leaning on his +arm, and on such an occasion as this even Robinson had consented to +her presence. She was dressed from head to foot in magenta. She wore +a magenta bonnet, and magenta stockings, and it was said of her that +she was very careful to allow the latter article to be seen. The +only beauty of which Sarah Jane could boast, rested in her feet and +ankles. + +But on the other side of Mr. Brown stood a pair, for whose presence +there George Robinson had not expressed his approbation, and as to +one of whom it may be said that better taste would have been shown on +all sides had he not thus intruded himself. Mr. Brisket had none of +the rights of proprietorship in that house, nor would it be possible +that he should have as long as the name of the firm contained within +itself that of Mr. Robinson. Had Brown, Jones, and Brisket agreed +to open shop together, it would have been well for Brisket to stand +there with that magenta shawl round his neck, and waving that magenta +towel in his hand. But as it was, what business had he there? + +"What business has he there? Ah, tell me that; what business has he +there?" said Robinson to himself, as he sat moodily in the small back +room upstairs. "Ah, tell me that, what business has he here? Did +not the old man promise that she should be mine? Is it for him that +I have done all; for him that I have collected the eager crowd of +purchasers that throng the hall of commerce below, which my taste has +decorated? Or for her--? Have I done this for her,--the false one? +But what recks it? She shall live to know that had she been constant +to me she might have sat--almost upon a throne!" And then he rushed +again to his work, and with eager pen struck off those well-known +lines about the house which some short time after ravished the ears +of the metropolis. + +In a following chapter of these memoirs it will be necessary to +go back for a while to the domestic life of some of the persons +concerned, and the fact of Mr. Brisket's presence at the opening of +the house will then be explained. In the meantime the gentle reader +is entreated to take it for granted that Mr. William Brisket was +actually there, standing on the left hand of Mr. Brown, waving high +above his head a huge magenta cotton handkerchief, and that on his +other arm was hanging Maryanne Brown, leaning quite as closely upon +him as her sister did upon the support which was her own. For one +moment George Robinson allowed himself to look down upon the scene, +and he plainly saw that clutch of the hand upon the sleeve. "Big as +he is," said Robinson to himself, "pistols would make us equal. But +the huge ox has no sense of chivalry." + +It was unfortunate for the future intrinsic comfort of the firm that +that member of it who was certainly not the least enterprising should +have found himself unable to join in the ceremony of opening the +house; but, nevertheless, it must be admitted that that ceremony was +imposing. Maryanne Brown was looking her best, and dressed as she was +in the correctest taste of the day, wearing of course the colours of +the house, it was not unnatural that all eyes should be turned on +her. "What a big man that Robinson is!" some one in the crowd was +heard to observe. Yes; that huge lump of human clay that called +itself William Brisket, the butcher of Aldersgate Street, was +actually taken on that occasion for the soul, and life, and salt of +an advertising house. Of Mr. William Brisket, it may here be said, +that he had no other idea of trade than that of selling at so much +per pound the beef which he had slaughtered with his own hands. + +But that ceremony was imposing. "Ladies and gentlemen," said those +five there assembled--speaking as it were with one voice,--"we bid +you welcome to Magenta House. Nine times nine is eighty-one. Never +forget that." Robinson had planned the words, but he was not there to +assist at their utterance! "Ladies and gentlemen, again we bid you +welcome to Magenta House." And then they retired backwards down the +shop, allowing the crowd to press forward, and all packed themselves +for awhile into Mr. Brown's little room at the back. + +"It was smart," said Mr. Brisket. + +"And went off uncommon well," said Jones, shaking the scent from his +head. "All the better, too, because that chap wasn't here." + +"He's a clever fellow," said Brisket. + +"And you shouldn't speak against him behind his back, Jones. Who did +it all? And who couldn't have done it if he hadn't been here?" When +these words were afterwards told to George Robinson, he forgave Mr. +Brown a great deal. + +The architect, acting under the direction of Mr. Robinson, had +contrived to arch the roof, supporting it on five semicircular iron +girders, which were left there visible to the eye, and which were of +course painted magenta. On the foremost of these was displayed the +name of the firm,--Brown, Jones, and Robinson. On the second, the +name of the house,--Magenta House. On the third the number,--Nine +times nine is eighty one. On the fourth, an edict of trade +against which retail houses in the haberdashery line should never +sin,--"Terms: Ready cash." And on the last, the special principle of +our trade,--"Five-and-a-half per cent. profit." The back of the shop +was closed in with magenta curtains, through which the bald head of +Mr. Brown would not unfrequently be seen to emerge; and on each side +of the curtains there stood a tall mirror, reaching up to the very +ceiling. Upon the whole, the thing certainly was well done. + +"But the contractor,"--the man who did the work was called the +contractor,--"the contractor says that he will want the rest of his +money in two months," said Mr. Brown, whining. + +"He would not have wanted any for the next twelve months," answered +Robinson, "if you had not insisted on paying him those few hundreds." + +"You can find fault with the bill, you know," said Jones, "and delay +it almost any time by threatening him with a lawyer." + +"And then he will put a distress on us," said Mr. Brown. + +"And after that will be very happy to take our bill at six months," +answered Robinson. And so that matter was ended for the time. + +Those men in armour stood there the whole of that day, and Fame +in his gilded car used his trumpet up and down Bishopsgate Street +with such effect, that the people living on each side of the street +became very sick of him. Fame himself was well acted,--at 16_s._ +the day,--and when the triumphal car remained still, stood balanced +on one leg, with the other stretched out behind, in a manner that +riveted attention. But no doubt his horn was badly chosen. Mr. +Robinson insisted on a long single-tubed instrument, saying that it +was classical; but a cornet à piston would have given more pleasure. + +A good deal of money was taken on that day; but certainly not so much +as had been anticipated. Very many articles were asked for, looked +at, and then not purchased. But this, though it occasioned grief to +Mr. Brown, was really not of much moment. That the thing should be +talked of,--if possible mentioned in the newspapers--was the object +of the firm. + +"I would give my bond for 2,000_l._," said Robinson, "to get a leader +in the Jupiter." + +The first article demanded over the counter was a real African monkey +muff, very superior, with long fine hair. + +"The ships which are bringing them have not yet arrived from the +coast," answered Jones, who luckily stepped up at the moment. "They +are expected in the docks to-morrow." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +MISS BROWN PLEADS HER OWN CASE, AND MR. ROBINSON WALKS ON BLACKFRIARS +BRIDGE. + + +At the time of Mrs. McCockerell's death Robinson and Maryanne Brown +were not on comfortable terms with each other. She had twitted him +with being remiss in asserting his own rights in the presence of his +rival, and he had accused her of being fickle, if not actually false. + +"I shall be just as fickle as I please," she said. "If it suits me +I'll have nine to follow me; but there shan't be one of the nine who +won't hold up his head and look after his own." + +"Your conduct, Maryanne--." + +"George, I won't be scolded, and that you ought to know. If you don't +like me, you are quite welcome to do the other thing." And then they +parted. This took place after Mr. Brown's adherence to the Robinson +interest, and while Brisket was waiting passively to see if that five +hundred pounds would be forthcoming. + +Their next meeting was in the presence of Mr. Brown; and on that +occasion all the three spoke out their intentions on the subject of +their future family arrangements, certainly with much plain language, +if not on every side with positive truth. Mr. Robinson was at the +house in Smithfield, giving counsel to old Mr. Brown as to the +contest which was then being urged between him and his son-in-law. +At that period the two sisters conceived that their joint pecuniary +interests required that they should act together; and it must be +acknowledged that they led poor Mr. Brown a sad life of it. He and +Robinson were sitting upstairs in the little back room looking out +into Spavinhorse Yard, when Maryanne abruptly broke in upon them. + +"Father," she said, standing upright in the middle of the room before +them, "I have come to know what it is that you mean to do?" + +"To do, my dear?" said old Mr. Brown. + +"Yes; to do. I suppose something is to be done some day. We ain't +always to go on shilly-shallying, spending the money, and ruining the +business, and living from hand to mouth, as though there was no end +to anything. I've got myself to look to, and I don't mean to go into +the workhouse if I can help it!" + +"The workhouse, Maryanne!" + +"I said the workhouse, father, and I meant it. If everybody had what +was justly their own, I shouldn't have to talk in that way. But as +far as I can see, them sharks, the lawyers, will have it all. Now, +I'll tell you what it is--" + +Hitherto Robinson had not said a word; but at this moment he thought +it right to interfere. "Maryanne!" he said,--and, in pronouncing the +well-loved name, he threw into it all the affection of which his +voice was capable,--"Maryanne!" + +"'Miss Brown' would be a deal properer, and also much more pleasing, +if it's all the same to you, sir!" + +How often had he whispered "Maryanne" into her ears, and the dear +girl had smiled upon him to hear herself so called! But he could +not remind her of this at the present moment. "I have your father's +sanction," said he-- + +"My father is nothing to me,--not with reference to what young man I +let myself be called 'Maryanne' by. And going on as he is going on, I +don't suppose that he'll long be much to me in any way." + +"Oh, Maryanne!" sobbed the unhappy parent. + +"That's all very well, sir, but it won't keep the kettle a-boiling!" + +"As long as I have a bit to eat of, Maryanne, and a cup to drink of, +you shall have the half." + +"And what am I to do when you won't have neither a bit nor a cup? +That's what you're coming to, father. We can all see that. What's the +use of all them lawyers?" + +"That's Jones's doing," said Robinson. + +"No; it isn't Jones's doing. And of course Jones must look after +himself. I'm not partial to Jones. Everybody knows that. When Sarah +Jane disgraced herself, and went off with him, I never said a word in +her favour. It wasn't I who brought a viper into the house and warmed +it in my bosom." It was at this moment that Jones was behaving with +the most barefaced effrontery, as well as the utmost cruelty, towards +the old man, and Maryanne's words cut her father to the very soul. +"Jones might have been anywhere for me," she continued; "but there he +is downstairs, and Sarah Jane is with him. Of course they are looking +for their own." + +"And what is it you want, Maryanne?" + +"Well; I'll tell you what I want. My dear sainted mother's last wish +was that--I should become Mrs. Brisket!" + +"And do you mean to say," said Robinson--"do you mean to say that +that is now your wish?" And he looked at her till the audacity even +of her eyes sank beneath the earnestness of his own. But though for +the moment he quelled her eye, nothing could quell her voice. + +"I mean to say," said she, speaking loudly, and with her arms akimbo, +"that William Brisket is a very respectable young man, with a +trade,--that he's got a decent house for a young woman to live in, +and a decent table for her to sit at. And he's always been brought +up decent, having been a regular 'prentice to his uncle, and all +that sort of thing. He's never been wandering about like a vagrant, +getting his money nobody knows how. William Brisket's as well known +in Aldersgate Street as the Post Office. And moreover," she added, +after a pause, speaking these last words in a somewhat milder +breath--"And moreover, it was my sainted mother's wish!" + +"Then go to him!" said Robinson, rising suddenly, and stretching out +his arm against her. "Go to him, and perform your--sainted mother's +wish! Go to the--butcher! Revel in his shambles, and grow fat and +sleek in his slaughter-house! From this moment George Robinson will +fight the world alone. Brisket, indeed! If it be accounted manliness +to have killed hecatombs of oxen, let him be called manly!" + +"He would have pretty nigh killed you, young man, on one occasion, if +you hadn't made yourself scarce." + +"By heavens!" exclaimed Robinson, "if he'll come forth, I'll fight +him to-morrow;--with cleavers, if he will!" + +"George, George, don't say that," exclaimed Mr. Brown. "'Let dogs +delight to bark and bite.'" + +"You needn't be afraid," said Maryanne. "He doesn't mean fighting," +and she pointed to Robinson. "William would about eat him, you know, +if they were to come together." + +"Heaven forbid!" said Mr. Brown. + +"But what I want to know is this," continued the maiden; "how is it +to be about that five hundred pounds which my mother left me?" + +"But, my dear, your mother had not five hundred pounds to leave." + +"Nor did she make any will if she had," said Robinson. + +"Now don't put in your oar, for I won't have it," said the lady. "And +you'd show a deal more correct feeling if you wasn't so much about +the house just at present. My darling mamma,"--and then she put her +handkerchief up to her eyes--"always told William that when he and I +became one, there should be five hundred pounds down;--and of course +he expects it. Now, sir, you often talk about your love for your +children." + +"I do love them; so I do. What else have I?" + +"Now's the time to prove it. Let me have that sum of five hundred +pounds, and I will always take your part against the Joneses. Five +hundred pounds isn't so much,--and surely I have a right to some +share. And you may be sure of this; when we're settled, Brisket is +not the man to come back to you for more, as some would do." And then +she gave another look at Robinson. + +"I haven't got the money; have I, George?" said the father. + +"That question I cannot answer," replied Robinson. "Nor can I say how +far it might be prudent in you to debar yourself from all further +progress in commerce if you have got it. But this I can say; do not +let any consideration for me prevent you from giving a dowry with +your daughter to Mr. Brisket; if she loves him--" + +"Oh, it's all bother about love," said she; "men and women must eat, +and they must have something to give their children, when they come." + +"But if I haven't got it, my dear?" + +"That's nonsense, father. Where has the money gone to? Whatever you +do, speak the truth. If you choose to say you won't--" + +"Well, then, I won't," said he, roused suddenly to anger. "I never +made Brisket any promise!" + +"But mother did; she as is now gone, and far away; and it was her +money,--so it was." + +"It wasn't her money;--it was mine!" said Mr. Brown. + +"And that's all the answer I'm to get? Very well. Then I shall know +where to look for my rights. And as for that fellow there, I didn't +think it of him, that he'd be so mean. I knew he was a coward +always." + +"I am neither mean nor a coward," said Robinson, jumping up, and +speaking with a voice that was audible right across Spavinhorse Yard, +and into the tap of the "Man of Mischief" public-house opposite. "As +for meanness, if I had the money, I would pour it out into your lap, +though I knew that it was to be converted into beef and mutton for +the benefit of a hated rival. And as for cowardice, I repel the +charge, and drive it back into the teeth of him who, doubtless, made +it. I am no coward." + +"You ran away when he bid you!" + +"Yes; because he is big and strong, and had I remained, he would +have knocked me about, and made me ridiculous in the eyes of the +spectators. But I am no coward. If you wish it, I am ready to fight +him." + +"Oh, dear, no. It can be nothing to me." + +"He will make me one mash of gore," said Robinson, still holding out +his hand. "But if you wish it, I care nothing for that. His brute +strength will, of course, prevail; but I am indifferent as to that, +if it would do you a pleasure." + +"Pleasure to me! Nothing of the kind, I can assure you." + +"Maryanne, if I might have my wish, it should be this. Let us both +sit down, with our cigars lighted,--ay, and with tapers in our +hands,--on an open barrel of gunpowder. Then let him who will sit +there longest receive this fair hand as his prize." And as he +finished, he leaned over her, and took up her hand in his. + +"Laws, Robinson!" she said; but she did not on the moment withdraw +her hand. "And if you were both blew up, what'd I do then?" + +"I won't hear of such an arrangement," said Mr. Brown. "It would be +very wicked. If there's another word spoke about it, I'll go to the +police at once!" + +On that occasion Mr. Brown was quite determined about the money; and, +as we heard afterwards, Mr. Brisket expressed himself as equally +resolute. "Of course, I expect to see my way," said he; "I can't do +anything of that sort without seeing my way." When that overture +about the gunpowder was repeated to him, he is reported to have +become very red. "Either with gloves or without, or with the sticks, +I'm ready for him," said he; "but as for sitting on a barrel of +gunpowder, it's a thing as nobody wouldn't do unless they was in +Bedlam." + +When that interview was over, Robinson walked forth by himself into +the evening air, along Giltspur Street, down the Old Bailey, and so +on by Bridge Street, to the middle of Blackfriars Bridge; and as he +walked, he strove manfully to get the better of the passion which was +devouring the strength of his blood, and the marrow of his bones. + +"If she be not fair for me," he sang to himself, "what care I how +fair she be?" But he did care; he could not master that passion. +She had been vile to him, unfeminine, untrue, coarsely abusive; she +had shown herself to be mercenary, incapable of true love, a scold, +fickle, and cruel. But yet he loved her. There was a gallant feeling +at his heart that no misfortune could conquer him,--but one; that +misfortune had fallen upon him,--and he was conquered. + +"Why is it," he said as he looked down into the turbid stream--"why +is it that bloodshed, physical strife, and brute power are dear to +them all? Any fool can have personal bravery; 'tis but a sign of +folly to know no fear. Grant that a man has no imagination, and he +cannot fear; but when a man does fear, and yet is brave--" Then for +awhile he stopped himself. "Would that I had gone at his throat like +a dog!" he continued, still in his soliloquy. "Would that I had! +Could I have torn out his tongue, and laid it as a trophy at her +feet, then she would have loved me." After that he wandered slowly +home, and went to bed. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +MR. BRISKET THINKS HE SEES HIS WAY, AND MR. ROBINSON AGAIN WALKS ON +BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE. + + +For some half-hour on that night, as Robinson had slowly walked +backwards and forwards across the bridge, ideas of suicide had +flitted across his mind. Should he not put an end to all this,--to +all this and so much else that harassed him and made life weary. +"''Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished,'" he said, as he looked +down into the dark river. And then he repeated a good deal more, +expressing his desire to sleep, but acknowledging that his dreams in +that strange bed might be the rub. "And thus 'calamity must still +live on,'" he said, as he went home to his lodgings. + +Then came those arrangements as to the partnership and the house in +Bishopsgate Street, which have already been narrated. During the +weeks which produced these results, he frequently saw Maryanne in +Smithfield, but never spoke to her, except on the ordinary topics of +the day. In his demeanour he was courteous to her, but he never once +addressed her except as Miss Brown, and always with a politeness +which was as cold as it was studied. On one or two occasions he +thought that he observed in her manner something that showed a wish +for reconciliation; but still he said nothing to her. "She has +treated me like a dog," he said to himself, "and yet I love her. If +I tell her so, she will treat me worse than a dog." Then he heard, +also, that Brisket had declared more than once that he could not see +his way. "I could see mine," he said, "as though a star guided me, +if she should but stretch forth her hand to me and ask me to forgive +her." + +It was some week or two after the deed of partnership had been +signed, and when the house at No. 81 had been just taken, that +Miss Twizzle came to Robinson. He was, at the moment, engaged in +composition for an illustrious house in the Minories that shall be +nameless; but he immediately gave his attention to Miss Twizzle, +though at the moment he was combating the difficulties of a rhyme +which it had been his duty to repeat nineteen times in the same poem. +"I think that will do," said he, as he wrote it down. "And yet it's +lame,--very lame: + + + But no lady ever loses + By going to the shop of--" + + +And then Miss Twizzle entered. + +"I see you are engaged," said she, "and, perhaps, I had better call +another time." + +"By no means, Miss Twizzle; pray be seated. How is everything going +on at the Hall of Harmony?" + +"I haven't been there, Mr. Robinson, since that night as Mr. Brisket +did behave so bad. I got such a turn that night, as I can't endure +the sight of the room ever since. If you'll believe me, I can't." + +"It was not a pleasant occurrence," said Robinson. "I felt it very +keenly. A man's motives are so vilely misconstrued, Miss Twizzle. I +have been accused of--of--cowardice." + +"Not by me, Mr. Robinson. I did say you should have stuck up a bit; +but I didn't mean anything like that." + +"Well; it's over now. When are they to be married, Miss Twizzle?" + +"Now, Mr. Robinson, don't you talk like that. You wouldn't take it +all calm that way if you thought she was going to have him." + +"I mean to take it very calm for the future." + +"But I suppose you're not going to give her up. It wouldn't be like +you, that wouldn't." + +"She has spurned me, Miss Twizzle; and after that--." + +"Oh, spurn! that's all my eye. Of course she has. There's a little of +that always, you know,--just for the fun of the thing. The course of +love shouldn't run too smooth. I wouldn't give a straw for a young +man if he wouldn't let me spurn him sometimes." + +"But you wouldn't call him a--a--" + +"A what? A coward, is it? Indeed but I would, or anything else that +came uppermost. Laws! what's the good of keeping company if you ain't +to say just what comes uppermost at the moment. 'Twas but the other +day I called my young man a raskil." + +"It was in sport, no doubt." + +"I was that angry at the time I could have tore him limb from limb; +I was, indeed. But he says, 'Polly,' says he, 'if I'm a he-raskil, +you're a she-raskil; so that needn't make any difference between us.' +And no more it didn't. He gets his salary rose in January, and then +we shall be married." + +"I wish you all the happiness that married life can bestow," said +Robinson. + +"That's very prettily said, and I wish the same to you. Only you +mustn't be so down like. There's Maryanne; she says you haven't a +word for her now." + +"She'll find as many words as she likes in Aldersgate Street, no +doubt." + +"Now, Robinson, if you're going to go on like that, you are not +the man I always took you for. You didn't suppose that a girl like +Maryanne isn't to have her bit of fun as long as it lasts. Them as +is as steady as old horses before marriage usually has their colt's +fling after marriage. Maryanne's principles is good, and that's +everything;--ain't it?" + +"I impute nothing to Miss Brown, except that she is false, and +mercenary, and cruel." + +"Exactly; just a she-raskil, as Tom called me. I was mercenary and +all the rest of it. But, laws! what's that between friends? The long +and short of it is this; is Barkis willing? If Barkis is willing, +then a certain gentleman as we know in the meat trade may suit +himself elsewhere. Come; answer that. Is Barkis willing?" + +For a minute or two Robinson sat silent, thinking of the indignities +he had endured. That he loved the girl,--loved her warmly, with all +his heart,--was only too true. Yes; he loved her too well. Had his +affection been of a colder nature, he would have been able to stand +off for awhile, and thus have taught the lady a lesson which might +have been of service. But, in his present mood, the temptation was +too great for him, and he could not resist it. "Barkis is willing," +said he. And thus, at the first overture, he forgave her all the +injury she had done him. A man never should forgive a woman unless he +has her absolutely in his power. When he does so, and thus wipes out +all old scores, he merely enables her to begin again. + +But Robinson had said the word, and Miss Twizzle was not the woman to +allow him to go back from it. "That's well," said she. "And now I'll +tell you what. Tom and I are going to drink tea in Smithfield, with +old Brown, you know. You'll come too; and then, when old Brown goes +to sleep, you and Maryanne will make it up." Of course she had her +way; and Robinson, though he repented himself of what he was doing +before she was out of the room, promised to be there. + +And he was there. When he entered Mr. Brown's sitting-room he found +Maryanne and Miss Twizzle, but Miss Twizzle's future lord had not +yet come. He did not wait for Mr. Brown to go to sleep, but at once +declared the purpose of his visit. + +"Shall I say 'Maryanne?'" said he, putting out his hand; "or is it to +be 'Miss Brown?'" + +"Well, I'm sure," said she; "there's a question! If 'Miss Brown' will +do for you, sir, it will do uncommon well for me." + +"Call her 'Maryanne,' and have done with it," said Miss Twizzle. "I +hate all such nonsense, like poison." + +"George," said the old man, "take her, and may a father's blessing go +along with her. We are partners in the haberdashery business, and now +we shall be partners in everything." Then he rose up, as though he +were going to join their hands. + +"Oh, father, I know a trick worth two of that!" said Maryanne. +"That's not the way we manage these things now-a-days, is it, Polly?" + +"I don't know any better way," said Polly, "when Barkis is willing." + +"Maryanne," said Robinson, "let bygones be bygones." + +"With all my heart," said she. "All of them, if you like." + +"No, not quite all, Maryanne. Those moments in which I first declared +what I felt for you can never be bygones for me. I have never +faltered in my love; and now, if you choose to accept my hand in the +presence of your father, there it is." + +"God bless you, my boy! God bless you!" said Mr. Brown. + +"Come, Maryanne," said Miss Twizzle, "he has spoke out now, quite +manly; and you should give him an answer." + +"But he is so imperious, Polly! If he only sees me speaking to +another, in the way of civility--as, of course, I must,--he's up with +his grand ways, and I'm put in such a trembling that I don't know how +to open my mouth." + +Of course, every one will know how the affair ended on that evening. +The quarrels of lovers have ever been the renewal of love. Miss Brown +did accept Mr. Robinson's vows; Mr. Brown did go to sleep; Tom, whose +salary was about to be raised to the matrimonial point, did arrive; +and the evening was passed in bliss and harmony. + +Then, again, for a week or two did George Robinson walk upon roses. +It could not now be thrown in his teeth that some other suitor was +an established tradesman; for such also was his proud position. He +was one of that firm whose name was already being discussed in the +commercial world, and could feel that the path to glory was open +beneath his feet. It was during these days that those original ideas +as to the name and colour of the house, and as to its architectural +ornamentation, came from his brain, and that he penned many of those +advertisements which afterwards made his reputation so great. It was +then that he so plainly declared his resolve to have his own way in +his own department, and startled his partners by the firmness of his +purpose. It need hardly be said that gratified love was the source +from whence he drew his inspiration. + +"And now let us name the day," said Robinson, as soon as that other +day,--the opening day for Magenta House,--had been settled. All +nature would then be smiling. It would be the merry month of May; and +Robinson suggested that, after the toil of the first fortnight of +the opening, a day's holiday for matrimonial purposes might well be +accorded to him. "We'll go to the bowers of Richmond, Maryanne," said +he. + +"God bless you, my children," said Mr. Brown. "And as for the +holiday, Jones shall see the shutters down, and I will see them up +again." + +"What!" said Maryanne. "This next first of June as ever is? I'll do +no such thing." + +"Why not, my own one?" + +"I never heard the like! Where am I to get my things? And you will +have no house taken or anything. If you think I'm going into lodgings +like Sarah Jane, you're mistook. I don't marry unless I have things +comfortable about me,--furniture, and all that. While you were in +your tantrums, George, I once went to see William Brisket's house." + +"---- William Brisket!" said Robinson. Perhaps, he was wrong in using +such a phrase, but it must be confessed that he was sorely tried. Who +but a harpy would have alluded to the comforts of a rival's domestic +establishment at such a moment as that? Maryanne Brown was a harpy, +and is a harpy to this day. + +"There, father," said she, "look at that! just listen to him! You +wouldn't believe me before. What's a young woman to look for with +a man as can go on like that?--cursing and swearing before one's +face,--quite awful!" + +"He was aggravated, Maryanne," said the old man. + +"Yes, and he'll always be being aggravated. If he thinks as I ain't +going to speak civil of them as has always spoke civil to me, he's in +the wrong of it. William Brisket never went about cursing at me in +that way." + +"I didn't curse at you, Maryanne." + +"If William Brisket had anything to say of a rival, he said it out +honest. 'Maryanne,' said he to me once, 'if that young man comes +after you any more, I'll polish his head off his shoulders.' Now, +that was speaking manly; and, if you could behave like that, you'd +get yourself respected. But as for them rampagious Billingsgate ways +before a lady, I for one haven't been used to it, and I won't put up +with it!" And so she bounced out of the room. + +"You shouldn't have swore at her, George," said Mr. Brown. + +"Swear at her!" said Robinson, putting his hand up to his head, +as though he found it almost impossible to collect his scattered +thoughts. "But it doesn't matter. The world may swear at her for me +now; and the world will swear at her!" So saying, he left the house, +went hastily down Snow Hill, and again walked moodily on the bridge +of Blackfriars. "'Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished," said +he: "--devoutly!--devoutly! And when they take me up,--up to her, +would it be loving, or would it be loathing?--A nasty, cold, moist, +unpleasant body!" he went on. "Ah me! it would be loathing! He +hadn't a father; he hadn't a mother; he hadn't a sister; he hadn't a +brother;--but he had a dearer one still, and a nearer one yet, than +all other.--'To be or not to be; that is the question.'--He must in +ground unsanctified be lodged, till the last trumpet! Ah, there's the +rub! But for that, who would these fardels bear?" Then he made up his +mind that the fardels must still be borne, and again went home to his +lodgings. + +This had occurred some little time before the opening of the house, +and on the next morning George Robinson was at his work as hard,--ay, +harder--than ever. He had pledged himself to the firm, and was aware +that it would ill become him to allow private sorrows to interfere +with public duties. On that morrow he was more enterprising than +ever, and it was then that he originated the idea of the four men in +armour, and of Fame with her classical horn and gilded car. + +"She'll come round again, George," said Mr. Brown, "and then take her +at the hop." + +"She'll hop no more for me," said George Robinson, sternly. But on +this matter he was weak as water, and this woman was able to turn him +round her little finger. + +On the fourteenth of May, the day previous to the opening of the +house, Robinson was seated upstairs alone, still at work on some of +his large posters. There was no sound to be heard but the hammers of +the workmen below; and the smell of the magenta paint, as it dried, +was strong in his nostrils. It was then that one of the workmen came +up to him, saying that there was a gentleman below who wished to +see him. At this period Robinson was anxious to be called on by +commercial gentlemen, and at once sent down civil word, begging that +the gentleman would walk up. With heavy step the gentleman did walk +up, and William Brisket was shown into the room. + +"Sir," said George Robinson as soon as he saw him, "I did not expect +this honour from you." And then he bethought himself of his desire to +tear out the monster's tongue, and began to consider whether he might +do it now. + +"I don't know much about honour," said Brisket; "but it seems to me +an understandin's wanted 'twixt you and I." + +"There can be none such," said Robinson. + +"Oh, but there must." + +"It is not within the compass of things. You, sir, cannot understand +me;--your intellectual vision is too limited. And I,--I will not +understand you." + +"Won't you, by jingo! Then your vision shall be limited, as far as +two uncommon black eyes can limit it. But come, Robinson, if you +don't want to quarrel, I don't." + +"As for quarrelling," said Robinson, "it is the work of children. +Come, Brisket, will you jump with me into yonder river? The first +that reaches the further side, let him have her!" And he pointed up +Bishopsgate Street towards the Thames. + +"Perhaps you can swim?" said Brisket. + +"Not a stroke!" said Robinson. + +"Then what a jolly pair of fools we should be!" + +"Ah-h-h-h! That's the way to try a man's metal!" + +"If you talk to me about metal, young man, I'll drop into you. +You've been a-sending all manner of messages to me about a barrel +of gunpowder and that sort of thing, and it's my mind that you're a +little out of your own. Now I ain't going to have anything to do with +gunpowder, nor yet with the river. It's a nasty place is the river; +and when I want a wash I shan't go there." + +"'Dreadfully staring through muddy impurity!'" said Robinson. + +"Impurity enough," continued the other; "and I won't have anything to +do with it. Now, I'll tell you what. Will you give me your word, as a +man, never to have nothing more to say to Maryanne Brown?" + +"Never again to speak to her?" + +"Not, except in the way of respect, when she's Mrs. Brisket." + +"Never again to clasp her hand in mine?" + +"Not by no means. And if you want me to remain quiet, you'd a deal +better stow that kind of thing. I'll tell you what it is--I'm +beginning to see my way with old Brown." + +"Et tu, Brute?" said Robinson, clasping his hands together. + +"I'm beginning to see my way with old Brown," continued Brisket; +"and, to tell you the truth at once, I don't mean to be interfered +with." + +"Has--my partner--promised--her hand to you?" + +"Yes, he has; and five hundred pounds with it." + +"And she--?" + +"Oh, she's all right. There isn't any doubt about she. I've just come +from she, as you call her. Now that I see my way, she and I is to be +one." + +"And where's the money to come from, Mr. Brisket?" + +"The father 'll stand the money--in course." + +"I don't know where he'll get it, then; certainly not out of the +capital of our business, Mr. Brisket. And since you are so keen about +seeing your way, Mr. Brisket, I advise you to be quite sure that you +do see it." + +"That's my business, young man; I've never been bit yet, and I don't +know as I'm going to begin now. I never moves till I see my way. They +as does is sure to tumble." + +"Well; see your way," said Robinson. "See it as far as your natural +lights will enable you to look. It's nothing to me." + +"Ah, but I must hear you say that you renounce her." + +"Renounce her, false harpy! Ay, with all my heart." + +"But I won't have her called out of her name." + +"She is false." + +"Hold your tongue, or I'll drop into you. They're all more or less +false, no doubt; but I won't have you say so of her. And since you're +so ready about the renouncing, suppose you put it on paper--'I +renounce my right to the hand and heart of Maryanne Brown.' You've +got pen and ink there;--just put it down." + +"It shall not need," said Robinson. + +"Oh, but it does need. It'll put an end to a world of trouble and +make her see that the thing is all settled. It can't be any sorrow to +you, because you say she's a false harpy." + +"Nevertheless, I love her." + +"So do I love her; and as I'm beginning to see my way, why, of +course, I mean to have her. We can't both marry her; can we?" + +"No; not both," said Robinson. "Certainly not both." + +"Then you just write as I bid you," said Brisket. + +"Bid me, sir!" + +"Well,--ask you; if that will make it easier." + +"And what if I don't?" + +"Why, I shall drop into you. That's all about it. There's the pen, +ink, and paper; you'd better do it." + +Not at first did Robinson write those fatal words by which he gave up +all his right to her he loved; but before that interview was ended +the words were written. "What matters it?" he said, at last, just as +Brisket had actually risen from his seat to put his vile threat into +execution. "Has not she renounced me?" + +"Yes," said Brisket, "she has done that certainly." + +"Had she been true to me," continued Robinson, "to do her a pleasure +I would have stood up before you till you had beaten me into the +likeness of one of your own carcases." + +"That's what I should have done, too." + +"But now;--why should I suffer now?" + +"No, indeed; why should you?" + +"I would thrash you if I could, for the pure pleasure." + +"No doubt; no doubt." + +"But it stands to reason that I can't. God, when He gave me power of +mind, gave you power of body." + +"And a little common sense along with it, my friend. I'm generally +able to see my way, big as I look. Come; what's the good of arguing. +You're quick at writing, I know, and there's the paper." + +Then George Robinson did write. The words were as follows;--"I +renounce the hand and heart of Maryanne Brown. I renounce them for +ever.--George Robinson." + +On the night of that day, while the hammers were still ringing by +gaslight in the unfinished shop; while Brown and Jones were still +busy with the goods, and Mrs. Jones was measuring out to the +shop-girls yards of Magenta ribbon, short by an inch, Robinson again +walked down to the bridge. "The bleak wind of March makes me tremble +and shiver," said he to himself;--"but, 'Not the dark arch or the +black flowing river.'" + +"Come, young man, move on," said a policeman to him. And he did move +on. + +"But for that man I should have done it then," he whispered, in his +solitude, as he went to bed. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +SHOWING HOW MR. ROBINSON WAS EMPLOYED ON THE OPENING DAY. + + +"Et tu, Brute?" were the words with which Mr. Brown was greeted at +six o'clock in the morning on that eventful day, when, at early dawn, +he met his young partner at Magenta House. He had never studied the +history of Cæsar's death, but he understood the reproach as well as +any Roman ever did. + +"It was your own doing, George," he said. "When she was swore at in +that way, and when you went away and left her--." + +"It was she went away and left me." + +"'Father,' said she when she came back, 'I shall put myself under the +protection of Mr. William Brisket.' What was I to do then? And when +he came himself, ten minutes afterwards, what was I to say to him? A +father is a father, George; and one's children is one's children." + +"And they are to be married?" + +"Not quite at once, George." + +"No. The mercenary slaughterer will reject that fair hand at last, +unless it comes to him weighted with a money-bag. From whence are to +come those five hundred pounds without which William Brisket will not +allow your daughter to warm herself at his hearthstone?" + +"As Jones has got the partnership, George, Maryanne's husband should +have something." + +"Ah, yes! It is I, then,--I, as one of the partners of this house, +who am to bestow a dowry upon her who has injured me, and make happy +the avarice of my rival! Since the mimic stage first represented the +actions of humanity, no such fate as that has ever been exhibited as +the lot of man. Be it so. Bring hither the cheque-book. That hand +that was base enough to renounce her shall, with the same pen, write +the order for the money." + +"No, George, no," said Mr. Brown. "I never meant to do that. Let him +have it--out of the profits." + +"Ha!" + +"I said in a month,--if things went well. Of course, I meant,--well +enough." + +"But they'll lead you such a life as never man passed yet. Maryanne, +you know, can be bitter; very bitter." + +"I must bear it, George. I've been a-bearing a long while, and I'm +partly used to it. But, George, it isn't a pleasure to me. It isn't a +pleasure to a poor old father to be nagged at by his daughters from +his very breakfast down to his very supper. And they comes to me +sometimes in bed, nagging at me worse than ever." + +"My heart has often bled for you, Mr. Brown." + +"I know it has, George; and that's why I've loved you and trusted +you. And now you won't quarrel with me, will you, though I have a +little thrown you over like?" + +What was Robinson to say? Of course he forgave him. It was in his +nature to forgive; and he would even have forgiven Maryanne at that +moment, had she come to him and asked him. But she was asleep in her +bed, dreaming, perchance, of that big Philistine whom she had chosen +as her future lord. A young David, however, might even yet arise, who +should smite that huge giant with a stone between the eyes. + +Then did Mr. Brown communicate to his partner those arrangements as +to grouping which his younger daughter had suggested for the opening +of the house. When Robinson first heard that Maryanne intended to be +there, he declared his intention of standing by her side, though he +would not deign even to look her in the face. "She shall see that she +has no power over me, to make me quail," he said. And then he was +told that Brisket also would be there; Maryanne had begged the favour +of him, and he had unwillingly consented. "It is hard to bear," said +Robinson, "very hard. But it shall be borne. I do not remember ever +to have heard of the like." + +"He won't come often, George, you may be sure." + +"That I should have planned these glories for him! Well, well; be it +so. What is the pageantry to me? It has been merely done to catch the +butterflies, and of these he is surely the largest. I will sit alone +above, and work there with my brain for the service of the firm, +while you below are satisfying the eyes of the crowd." + +And so it had been, as was told in that chapter which was devoted to +the opening day of the house. Robinson had sat alone in the very room +in which he had encountered Brisket, and had barely left his seat +for one moment when the first rush of the public into the shop had +made his heart leap within him. There the braying of the horn in +the street, and the clatter of the armed horsemen on the pavement, +and the jokes of the young boys, and the angry threatenings of the +policemen, reached his ears. "It is well," said he; "the ball has +been set a-rolling, and the work that has been well begun is already +half completed. When once the steps of the unthinking crowd have +habituated themselves to move hither-ward, they will continue to come +with the constancy of the tide, which ever rolls itself on the same +strand." And then he tasked himself to think how that tide should +be made always to flow,--never to ebb. "They must be brought here," +said he, "ever by new allurements. When once they come, it is only in +accordance with the laws of human nature that they should leave their +money behind them." Upon that, he prepared the words for another +card, in which he begged his friends, the public of the city, to +come to Magenta House, as friends should come. They were invited to +see, and not to buy. The firm did not care that purchases should be +made thus early in their career. Their great desire was that the +arrangements of the establishment should be witnessed before any +considerable portion of the immense stock had been moved for the +purpose of retail sale. And then the West End public were especially +requested to inspect the furs which were being collected for the +anticipated sale of the next winter. It was as he wrote these words +that he heard that demand for the African monkey muff, and heard also +Mr. Jones's discreet answer. "Yes," said he to himself; "before we +have done, ships shall come to us from all coasts; real ships. From +Tyre and Sidon, they shall come; from Ophir and Tarshish, from the +East and from the West, and from the balmy southern islands. How +sweet will it be to be named among the Merchant Princes of this great +commercial nation!" But he felt that Brown and Jones would never be +Merchant Princes, and he already looked forward to the day when he +would be able to emancipate himself from such thraldom. + +It has been already said that a considerable amount of business was +done over the counter on the first day, but that the sum of money +taken was not as great as had been hoped. That this was caused by Mr. +Brown's injudicious mode of going to work, there could be no doubt. +He had filled the shelves of the shop with cheap articles for which +he had paid, and had hesitated in giving orders for heavy amounts +to the wholesale houses. Such orders had of course been given, and +in some cases had been given in vain; but quite enough of them had +been honoured to show what might have been done, had there been no +hesitation. "As a man of capital, I must object," he had said to Mr. +Robinson, only a week before the house was opened. "I wish I could +make you understand that you have no capital." "I would I could +divest you of the idea and the money too," said Robinson. But it was +all of no use. A domestic fowl that has passed all its days at a +barn-door can never soar on the eagle's wing. Now Mr. Brown was the +domestic fowl, while the eagle's pinion belonged to his youngest +partner. By whom in that firm the kite was personified, shall not +here be stated. + +Brisket on that day soon left the shop; but as Maryanne Brown +remained there, Robinson did not descend among the throng. There was +no private door to the house, and therefore he was forced to walk out +between the counters when he went to his dinner. On that occasion, +he passed close by Miss Brown, and met that young lady's eye without +quailing. She looked full upon him: and then, turning her face round +to her sister, tittered with an air of scorn. + +"I think he's been very badly used," said Sarah Jane. + +"And who has he got to blame but his own want of spirit?" said the +other. This was spoken in the open shop, and many of the young men +and women heard it. Robinson, however, merely walked on, raising his +hat, and saluting the daughters of the senior partner. But it must be +acknowledged that such remarks as that greatly aggravated the misery +of his position. + +It was on the evening of that day, when he was about to leave the +establishment for the night, that he heard a gentle creeping step on +the stairs, and presently Mrs. Jones presented herself in the room in +which he was sitting. Now if there was any human fellow-creature on +the face of this earth whom George Robinson had brought himself to +hate, that human fellow-creature was Sarah Jane Jones. Jones himself +he despised, but his feeling towards Mrs. Jones was stronger than +contempt. To him it was odious that she should be present in the +house at all, and he had obtained from her father a direct promise +that she should not be allowed to come behind the counters after this +their opening day. + +"George," she said, coming up to him, "I have come upstairs because I +wish to have a few words with you private." + +"Will you take a chair?" said he, placing one for her. One is bound +to be courteous to a lady, even though that lady be a harpy. + +"George," she again began,--she had never called him "George" before, +and he felt himself sorely tempted to tell her that his name was Mr. +Robinson. "George, I've brought myself to look upon you quite as a +brother-in-law, you know." + +"Have you?" said he. "Then you have done me an honour that does not +belong to me,--and never will." + +"Now don't say that, George. If you'll only bring yourself to show a +little more spirit to Maryanne, all will be right yet." + +What was she that she should talk to him about spirit? In these days +there was no subject which was more painful to him than that of +personal courage. He was well aware that he was no coward. He felt +within himself an impulse that would have carried him through any +danger of which the result would not have been ridiculous. He could +have led a forlorn hope, or rescued female weakness from the fangs of +devouring flames. But he had declined,--he acknowledged to himself +that he had declined,--to be mauled by the hands of an angry butcher, +who was twice his size. "One has to keep one's own path in the +world," he had said to himself; "but, nevertheless, one avoids a +chimney-sweeper. Should I have gained anything had I allowed that +huge monster to hammer at me?" So he had argued. But, though he had +thus argued, he had been angry with himself, and now he could not +bear to be told that he had lacked spirit. + +"That is my affair," he replied to her. "But those about me will find +that I do not lack spirit when I find fitting occasion to use it." + +"No; I'm sure they won't. And now's the time, George. You're not +going to let that fellow Brisket run off with Maryanne from before +your eyes." + +"He's at liberty to run anywhere for me." + +"Now, look here, George. I know you're fond of her." + +"No. I was once; but I've torn her from my heart." + +"That's nonsense, George. The fact is, the more she gives herself +airs and makes herself scarce and stiff to you, the more precious you +think her." Ignorant as the woman was of almost everything, she did +know something of human nature. + +"I shall never trouble myself about her again," said he. + +"Oh, yes, you will; and make her Mrs. Robinson before you've done. +Now, look here, George; that fellow Brisket won't have her, unless he +gets the money." + +"It's nothing to me," said Robinson. + +"And where's the money to come from, if not out of the house? Now, +you and Jones has your rights as partners, and I do hope you and he +won't let the old man make off with the capital of the firm in that +way. If he gives Brisket five hundred pounds,--and there isn't much +more left--" + +"I'll tell you what, Mrs. Jones;--he may give Brisket five thousand +pounds as far as I am concerned. Whatever Mr. Brown may do in that +way, I shan't interfere to prevent him." + +"You shan't!" + +"It's his own money, and, as far as George Robinson is concerned--" + +"His own money, and he in partnership with Jones! Not a penny of it +is his own, and so I'll make them understand. As for you, you are the +softest--" + +"Never mind me, Mrs. Jones." + +"No; I never will mind you again. Well, to be sure! And you'd stand +by and see the money given away in that way to enable the man you +hate to take away the girl you love! Well, I never--. They did say +you was faint-hearted, but I never thought to see the like of that in +a thing that called itself a man." And so saying, she took herself +off. + + + --"It cannot be, + But I am pigeon-livered, and lack gall, + To make oppression bitter," + + +said Robinson, rising from his seat, and slapping his forehead with +his hand; and then he stalked backwards and forwards through the +small room, driven almost to madness by the misery of his position. +"I am not splenetic and rash," he said; "yet have I something in me +dangerous. I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand Briskets could not, with +all their quantities of love, make up my sum." + +At this time Mr. Brown still lived at the house in Smithfield. It was +intended that he should move to Bishopsgate Street as soon as the +upper rooms could be made ready for him, but the works had hitherto +been confined to the shop. On this, the night of the opening day, +he intended to give a little supper to his partners; and Robinson, +having promised to join it, felt himself bound to keep his word. +"Brisket will not be there?" he asked, as he walked across Finsbury +Square with the old man. "Certainly not," said Mr. Brown; "I never +thought of asking him." And yet, when they reached the house, Brisket +was already seated by the fire, superintending the toasting of the +cheese, as though he were one of the family. "It's not my doing, +George; indeed, it's not," whispered Mr. Brown, as they entered the +sitting-room of the family. + + +[Illustration: Brisket makes himself useful.] + + +That supper-party was terrible to Robinson, but he bore it all +without flinching. Jones and his wife were there, and so also, of +course, was Maryanne. Her he had seen at the moment of his entry, +sitting by with well-pleased face, while her huge lover put butter +and ale into the frying-pan. "Why, Sarah Jane," she said, "I declare +he's quite a man cook. How useful he would be about a house!" + +"Oh, uncommon," said Sarah Jane. "And you mean to try before long, +don't you, Mr. Brisket?" + +"You must ask Maryanne about that," said he, raising his great red +face from the fire, and putting on the airs and graces of a thriving +lover. + +"Don't ask me anything," said Maryanne, "for I won't answer anything. +It's nothing to me what he means to try." + +"Oh, ain't it, though," said Brisket. And then they all sat down +to supper. It may be imagined with what ease Robinson listened to +conversation such as this, and with what appetite he took his seat at +that table. + +"Mr. Robinson, may I give you a little of this cheese?" said +Maryanne. What a story such a question told of the heartlessness, +audacity, and iron nerves of her who asked it! What power, and at +the same time what cruelty, there must have been within that laced +bodice, when she could bring herself to make such an offer! + +"By all means," said Robinson, with equal courage. The morsel was +then put upon his plate, and he swallowed it. "I would he had +poisoned it," said he to himself. "With what delight would I then +partake of the dish, so that he and she partook of it with me!" + +The misery of that supper-party will never be forgotten. Had Brisket +been Adonis himself, he could not have been treated with softer +courtesies by those two harpies; and yet, not an hour ago, Sarah +Jane Jones had been endeavouring to raise a conspiracy against his +hopes. What an ass will a man allow himself to become under such +circumstances! There sat the big butcher, smirking and smiling, +ever and again dipping his unlovely lips into a steaming beaker of +brandy-and-water, regarding himself as triumphant in the courts of +Venus. But that false woman who sat at his side would have sold him +piecemeal for money, as he would have sold the carcase of a sheep. + +"You do not drink, George," said Mr. Brown. + +"It does not need," said Robinson; and then he took his hat and went +his way. + +On that night he swore to himself that he would abandon her for ever, +and devote himself to commerce and the Muses. It was then that he +composed the opening lines of a poem which may yet make his name +famous wherever the English language is spoken:-- + + + The golden-eyed son of the Morning rushed down the wind + like a trumpet, + His azure locks adorning with emeralds fresh from the ocean. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +SHOWING HOW THE FIRM INVENTED A NEW SHIRT. + + +It has already been said that those four men in armour, on the +production of whom Robinson had especially prided himself, were +dispensed with after the first fortnight. This, no doubt, was brought +about through the parsimony of Mr. Brown, but in doing so he was +aided by a fortuitous circumstance. One of the horses trampled on a +child near the Bank, and then the police and press interfered. At +first the partners were very unhappy about the child, for it was +reported to them that the poor little fellow would die. Mr. Brown +went to see it, and ascertained that the mother knew how to make the +most of the occurrence;--and so, after a day or two, did the firm. +The Jupiter daily newspaper took the matter up, and lashed out +vigorously at what it was pleased to call the wickedness as well as +absurdity of such a system of advertising; but as the little boy +was not killed, nor indeed seriously hurt, the firm was able to +make capital out of the Jupiter, by sending a daily bulletin from +Magenta House as to the state of the child's health. For a week the +newspapers inserted these, and allowed the firm to explain that they +supplied nourishing food, and paid the doctor's bill; but at the end +of the week the editor declined any further correspondence. Mr. Brown +then discontinued his visits; but the child's fortune had been made +by gifts from a generous public, and the whole thing had acted as an +excellent unpaid advertisement. Now, it is well understood by all +trades that any unpaid advertisement is worth twenty that have cost +money. + +In this way the men in armour were put down, but they will be long +remembered by the world of Bishopsgate Street. That they cost money +is certain. "Whatever we do," said Mr. Brown, "don't let's have any +more horses. You see, George, they're always a-eating!" He could not +understand that it was nothing, though the horses had eaten gilded +oats, so long as there were golden returns. + +The men in armour, however, were put down, as also was the car of +Fame. One horse only was left in the service of the firm, and this +was an ancient creature that had for many years belonged to the +butter establishment in Smithfield. By this animal a light but large +wooden frame was dragged about, painted Magenta on its four sides, +and bearing on its various fronts different notices as to the +business of the house. A boy stood uncomfortably in the centre, +driving the slow brute by means of reins which were inserted through +the apertures of two of the letters; through another letter above +there was a third hole for his eyes, and, shut up in this prison, he +was enjoined to keep moving throughout the day. This he did at the +slowest possible pace, and thus he earned five shillings a week. The +arrangement was one made entirely by Mr. Brown, who himself struck +the bargain with the boy's father. Mr. Robinson was much ashamed of +this affair, declaring that it would be better to abstain altogether +from advertising in that line than to do it in so ignoble a manner; +but Mr. Brown would not give way, and the magenta box was dragged +about the streets till it was altogether shattered and in pieces. + +Stockings was the article in which, above all others, Mr. Brown was +desirous of placing his confidence. "George," said he, "all the world +wears stockings; but those who require African monkey muffs are in +comparison few in number. I know Legg and Loosefit of the Poultry, +and I'll purchase a stock." He went to Legg and Loosefit and did +purchase a stock, absolutely laying out a hundred pounds of ready +money for hosiery, and getting as much more on credit. Stockings is +an article on which considerable genius might be displayed by any +house intending to do stockings, and nothing else; but taken up in +this small way by such a firm as that of 81, Bishopsgate Street, it +was simply embarrassing. "Now you can say something true in your +advertisements," said Mr. Brown, with an air of triumph, when the +invoice of the goods arrived. + +"True!" said Robinson. He would not, however, sneer at his partner, +so he retreated to his own room, and went to work. "Stockings!" said +he to himself. "There is no room for ambition in it! But the word +'Hose' does not sound amiss." And then he prepared that small book, +with silk magenta covers and silvery leaves, which he called _The New +Miracle!_ + + + The whole world wants stockings, [he began, not disdaining + to take his very words from Mr. Brown]--and Brown, Jones, + and Robinson are prepared to supply the whole world with + the stockings which they want. The following is a list of + some of the goods which are at present being removed from + the river to the premises at Magenta House, in Bishopsgate + Street. B., J., and R. affix the usual trade price of the + article, and the price at which they are able to offer them + to the public. + + One hundred and twenty baskets of ladies' Spanish + hose,--usual price, 1_s._ 3_d._; sold by B., J., and R. at + 9¾_d._ + + +"Baskets!" said Mr. Brown, when he read the little book. + +"It's all right," said Robinson. "I have been at the trouble to learn +the trade language." + + + Four hundred dozen white cotton hose,--usual price, 1_s._ + 0½_d._; sold by B., J., and R. at 7¼_d._ + + Eight stack of China and pearl silk hose,--usual price, + 3_s._; sold by B., J., and R. for 1_s._ 9¾_d._ + + Fifteen hundred dozen of Balbriggan,--usual price, 1_s._ + 6_d._; sold by B., J., and R. for 10½_d._ + + +It may not, perhaps, be necessary to continue the whole list +here; but as it was read aloud to Mr. Brown, he sat aghast with +astonishment. "George!" said he, at last, "I don't like it. It makes +me quite afeard. It does indeed." + +"And why do you not like it?" said Robinson, quietly laying down the +manuscript, and putting his hand upon it. "Does it want vigour?" + +"No; it does not want vigour." + +"Does it fail to be attractive? Is it commonplace?" + +"It is not that I mean," said Mr. Brown. "But--" + +"Is it not simple? The articles are merely named, with their prices." + +"But, George, we haven't got 'em. We couldn't hold such a quantity. +And if we had them, we should be ruined to sell them at such prices +as that. I did want to do a genuine trade in stockings." + +"And so you shall, sir. But how will you begin unless you attract +your customers?" + +"You have put your prices altogether too low," said Jones. "It stands +to reason you can't sell them for the money. You shouldn't have put +the prices at all;--it hampers one dreadful. You don't know what it +is to stand down there among 'em all, and tell 'em that the cheap +things haven't come." + +"Say that they've all been sold," said Robinson. + +"It's just the same," argued Jones. "I declare last Saturday night I +didn't think my life was safe in the crowd." + +"And who brought that crowd to the house?" demanded Robinson. "Who +has filled the shop below with such a throng of anxious purchasers?" + +"But, George," said Mr. Brown, "I should like to have one of these +bills true, if only that one might show it as a sample when the +people talk to one." + +"True!" said Robinson, again. "You wish that it should be true! In +the first place, did you ever see an advertisement that contained the +truth? If it were as true as heaven, would any one believe it? Was it +ever supposed that any man believed an advertisement? Sit down and +write the truth, and see what it will be! The statement will show +itself of such a nature that you will not dare to publish it. There +is the paper, and there the pen. Take them, and see what you can make +of it." + +"I do think that somebody should be made to believe it," said Jones. + +"You do!" and Robinson, as he spoke, turned angrily at the other. +"Did you ever believe an advertisement?" Jones, in self-defence, +protested that he never had. "And why should others be more simple +than you? No man,--no woman believes them. They are not lies; for it +is not intended that they should obtain credit. I should despise the +man who attempted to base his advertisements on a system of facts, +as I would the builder who lays his foundation upon the sand. The +groundwork of advertising is romance. It is poetry in its very +essence. Is Hamlet true?" + +"I really do not know," said Mr. Brown. + +"There is no man, to my thinking, so false," continued Robinson, "as +he who in trade professes to be true. He deceives, or endeavours to +do so. I do not. No one will believe that we have fifteen hundred +dozen of Balbriggan." + +"Nobody will," said Mr. Brown. + +"But yet that statement will have its effect. It will produce custom, +and bring grist to our mill without any dishonesty on our part. +Advertisements are profitable, not because they are believed, but +because they are attractive. Once understand that, and you will cease +to ask for truth." Then he turned himself again to his work and +finished his task without further interruption. + +"You shall sell your stockings, Mr. Brown," he said to the senior +member of the firm, about three days after that. + +"Indeed, I hope so." + +"Look here, sir!" and then he took Mr. Brown to the window. There +stood eight stalwart porters, divided into two parties of four each, +and on their shoulders they bore erect, supported on painted frames, +an enormous pair of gilded, embroidered, brocaded, begartered wooden +stockings. On the massive calves of these was set forth a statement +of the usual kind, declaring that "Brown, Jones, and Robinson, of 81, +Bishopsgate Street, had just received 40,000 pairs of best French +silk ladies' hose direct from Lyons." + +"And now look at the men's legs," said Robinson. Mr. Brown did +look, and perceived that they were dressed in magenta-coloured +knee-breeches, with magenta-coloured stockings. They were gorgeous +in their attire, and at this moment they were starting from the door +in different directions. "Perhaps you will tell me that that is not +true?" + +"I will say nothing about it for the future," said Mr. Brown. + +"It is not true," continued Robinson; "but it is a work of fiction, +in which I take leave to think that elegance and originality are +combined." + + +"We ought to do something special in shirts," said Jones, a few days +after this. "We could get a few dozen from Hodges, in King Street, +and call them Eureka." + +"Couldn't we have a shirt of our own?" said Mr. Robinson. "Couldn't +you invent a shirt, Mr. Jones?" Jones, as Robinson looked him full +in the face, ran his fingers through his scented hair, and said that +he would consult his wife. Before the day was over, however, the +following notice was already in type:-- + + + MANKIND IN A STATE OF BLISS! + + BROWN, JONES, AND ROBINSON have sincere pleasure in + presenting to the Fashionable World their new KATAKAIRION + SHIRT, in which they have thoroughly overcome the + difficulties, hitherto found to be insurmountable, of + adjusting the bodies of the Nobility and Gentry to + an article which shall be at the same time elegant, + comfortable, lasting, and cheap. + + B., J., and R.'s KATAKAIRION SHIRT, and their Katakairion + Shirt alone, is acknowledged to unite these qualities. + + Six Shirts for 39_s._ 9_d._ + + The Katakairion Shirt is specially recommended to Officers + going to India and elsewhere, while it is at the same time + eminently adapted for the Home Consumption. + + +"I think I would have considered it a little more, before I committed +myself," said Jones. + +"Ah, yes; you would have consulted your wife; as I have not got one, +I must depend on my own wits." + +"And are not likely to have one either," said Jones. + +"Young men, young men," said Mr. Brown, raising his hands +impressively, "if as Christians you cannot agree, at any rate you are +bound to do so as partners. What is it that the Psalmist says, 'Let +dogs delight, to bark and bite--.'" + +The notice as to the Katakairion shirt was printed on that day, as +originally drawn out by Robinson, and very widely circulated on the +two or three following mornings. A brisk demand ensued, and it was +found that Hodges, the wholesale manufacturer, of King Street, was +able to supply the firm with an article which, when sold at 39_s._ +6_d._, left a comfortable profit. + +"I told you that we ought to do something special in shirts," said +Jones, as though the whole merit of the transaction were his own. + +Gloves was another article to which considerable attention was +given;-- + + + BROWN, JONES, AND ROBINSON have made special arrangements + with the glove manufacturers of Worcestershire, and are + now enabled to offer to the public English-sewn Worcester + gloves, made of French kid, at a price altogether out of + the reach of any other house in the trade. + + B., J., and R. boldly defy competition. + + +When that notice was put up in front of the house, none of the firm +expected that any one would believe in their arrangement with the +Worcestershire glove-makers. They had no such hope, and no such wish. +What gloves they sold, they got from the wholesale houses in St. +Paul's Churchyard, quite indifferent as to the county in which they +were sewn, or the kingdom from which they came. Nevertheless, the +plan answered, and a trade in gloves was created. + +But perhaps the pretty little dialogues which were circulated about +the town, did more than anything else to make the house generally +known to mothers and their families. + + + "Mamma, mamma, I have seen such a beautiful sight!" + + +one of them began. + + + "My dearest daughter, what was it?" + + "I was walking home through the City, with my kind cousin + Augustus, and he took me to that wonderfully handsome and + extraordinarily large new shop, just opened by those + enterprising men, Brown, Jones, and Robinson, at No. 81, + Bishopsgate Street. They call it 'Nine Times Nine, or + Magenta House.'" + + "My dearest daughter, you may well call it wonderful. It + is the wonder of the age. Brown, Jones, and Robinson sell + everything; but not only that,--they sell everything good; + and not only that--they sell everything cheap. Whenever + your wants induce you to make purchases, you may always be + sure of receiving full value for your money at the house of + Brown, Jones, and Robinson." + + +In this way, by efforts such as these, which were never allowed +to flag for a single hour,--by a continued series of original +composition which, as regards variety and striking incidents, was, +perhaps, never surpassed,--a great and stirring trade was established +within six months of the opening day. By this time Mr. Brown had +learned to be silent on the subject of advertising, and had been +brought to confess, more than once, that the subject was beyond his +comprehension. + +"I am an old man, George," he said once, "and all this seems to be +new." + +"If it be not new, it is nothing," answered Robinson. + +"I don't understand it," continued the old man; "I don't pretend to +understand it; I only hope that it's right." + +The conduct which Jones was disposed to pursue gave much more +trouble. He was willing enough to allow Robinson to have his own +way, and to advertise in any shape or manner, but he was desirous of +himself doing the same thing. It need hardly be pointed out here that +this was a branch of trade for which he was peculiarly unsuited, and +that his productions would be stale, inadequate, and unattractive. +Nevertheless, he persevered, and it was only by direct interference +at the printer's, that the publication of documents was prevented +which would have been fatal to the interests of the firm. + +"Do I meddle with you in the shop?" Robinson would say to him. + +"You haven't the personal advantages which are required for meeting +the public," Jones would answer. + +"Nor have you the mental advantages without which original +composition is impossible." + +In spite of all these difficulties a considerable trade was +established within six months, and the shop was usually crowded. As a +drawback to this, the bills at the printer's and at the stationer's +had become very heavy, and Robinson was afraid to disclose their +amount to his senior partner. But nevertheless he persevered. "Faint +heart never won fair lady," he repeated to himself, over and over +again,--the fair lady for whom his heart sighed being at this time +Commercial Success. + +_Vestigia Nulla Retrorsum._ That should be the motto of the house. He +failed, however, altogether in making it intelligible to Mr. Brown. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +JOHNSON OF MANCHESTER. + + +It was about eight months after the business had been opened that a +circumstance took place which gave to the firm a reputation which +for some few days was absolutely metropolitan. The affair was at +first fortuitous, but advantage was very promptly taken of all that +occurred; no chance was allowed to pass by unimproved; and there was, +perhaps, as much genuine talent displayed in the matter as though the +whole had been designed from the beginning. The transaction was the +more important as it once more brought Mr. Robinson and Maryanne +Brown together, and very nearly effected a union between them. It was +not, however, written in the book that such a marriage should ever +be celebrated, and the renewal of love which for a time gave such +pleasure to the young lady's father, had no other effect than that +of making them in their subsequent quarrels more bitter than ever to +each other. + +It was about midwinter when the circumstances now about to be +narrated took place. Mr. Brown had gone down to the neighbourhood of +Manchester for the purpose of making certain bonâ fide purchases of +coloured prints, and had there come to terms with a dealer. At this +time there was a strike among the factories, and the goods became +somewhat more scarce in the market, and, therefore, a trifle dearer +than was ordinarily the case. From this arose the fact that the +agreement made with Mr. Brown was not kept by the Lancashire house, +and that the firm in Bishopsgate was really subjected to a certain +amount of commercial ill-treatment. + +"It is a cruel shame," said Mr. Brown--"a very cruel shame; when a +party in trade has undertaken a transaction with another party, no +consideration should hinder that party from being as good as his +word. A tradesman's word should be his bond." This purchase down +among the factories had been his own special work, and he had been +proud of it. He was, moreover, a man who could ill tolerate any +ill-usage from others. "Can't we do anything to 'em, George? Can't we +make 'em bankrupts?" + +"If we could, what good would that do us?" said Robinson. "We must +put up with it." + +"I'd bring an action against them," said Jones. + +"And spend thirty or forty pounds with the lawyers," said Robinson. +"No; we will not be such fools as that. But we might advertise the +injury." + +"Advertise the injury," said Mr. Brown, with his eyes wide open. By +this time he had begun to understand that the depth of his partner's +finesse was not to be fathomed by his own unaided intelligence. + +"And spend as much money in that as with the lawyers," said Jones. + +"Probably more," said Robinson, very calmly. "We promised the public +in our last week's circular that we should have these goods." + +"Of course we did," said Mr. Brown; "and now the public will be +deceived!" And he lifted up his hands in horror at the thought. + +"We'll advertise it," said Robinson again; and then for some short +space he sat with his head resting on his hands. "Yes, we'll +advertise it. Leave me for awhile, that I may compose the notices." + +Mr. Brown, after gazing at him for a moment with a countenance on +which wonder and admiration were strongly written, touched his other +partner on the arm, and led him from the room. + +The following day was Saturday, which at Magenta House was always the +busiest day of the week. At about four o'clock in the afternoon the +shop would become thronged, and from that hour up to ten at night +nearly as much money was taken as during all the week besides. On +that Saturday at about noon the following words were to be read at +each of the large sheets of glass in the front of the house. They +were printed, of course, on magenta paper, and the corners and +margins were tastefully decorated:-- + + + Brown, Jones, and Robinson, having been greatly deceived by + Johnson of Manchester, are not able to submit to the public + the 40,000 new specimens of English prints, as they had + engaged to do, on this day. But they beg to assure their + customers and the public in general that they will shortly + do so, however tremendous may be the sacrifice. + + +"But it was Staleybridge," said Mr. Brown, "and the man's name was +Pawkins." + +"And you would have me put up 'Pawkins of Staleybridge,' and thus +render the firm liable to an indictment for libel? Are not Pawkins +and Johnson all the same to the public?" + +"But there is sure to be some Johnson at Manchester." + +"There are probably ten, and therefore no man can say that he is +meant. I ascertained that there were three before I ventured on the +name." + +On that afternoon some trifling sensation was created in Bishopsgate +Street, and a few loungers were always on the pavement reading the +notice. Robinson went out from time to time, and heard men as they +passed talking of Johnson of Manchester. "It will do," said he. "You +will see that it will do. By seven o'clock on next Saturday evening I +will have the shop so crowded that women who are in shall be unable +to get out again." + +That notice remained up on Saturday evening, and till twelve on +Monday, at which hour it was replaced by the following:-- + + + Johnson of Manchester has proved himself utterly unable to + meet his engagement. The public of the metropolis, however, + may feel quite confident that Brown, Jones, and Robinson + will not allow any provincial manufacturer to practise such + dishonesty on the City with impunity. + + +The concourse of persons outside then became much greater, and an +audible hum of voices not unfrequently reached the ears of those +within. During this trying week Mr. Jones, it must be acknowledged, +did not play his part badly. It had come home to him in some manner +that this peculiar period was of vital importance to the house, and +on each day he came down to business dressed in his very best. It +was pleasant to see him as he stood at the door, shining with bear's +grease, loaded with gilt chains, glittering with rings, with the +lappets of his coat thrown back so as to show his frilled shirt and +satin waistcoat. There he stood, rubbing his hands and looking out +upon the people as though he scorned to notice them. As regards +intellect, mind, apprehension, there was nothing to be found in the +personal appearance of Jones, but he certainly possessed an amount of +animal good looks which had its weight with weak-minded females. + +The second notice was considered sufficient to attract notice on +Monday and Tuesday. On the latter day it became manifest that the +conduct of Johnson of Manchester had grown to be matter of public +interest, and the firm was aware that persons from a distance were +congregating in Bishopsgate Street, in order that they might see with +their own eyes the notices at Magenta House. + +Early on the Wednesday, the third of the series appeared. It was very +short, and ran as follows:-- + + + Johnson of Manchester is off! + + The police are on his track! + + +This exciting piece of news was greedily welcomed by the walking +public, and a real crowd had congregated on the pavement by noon. A +little after that time, while Mr. Brown was still at dinner with his +daughter upstairs, a policeman called and begged to see some member +of the firm. Jones, whose timidity was overwhelming, immediately sent +for Mr. Brown; and he, also embarrassed, knocked at the door of Mr. +Robinson's little room, and asked for counsel. + +"The Peelers are here, George," he said. "I knew there'd be a row." + +"I hope so," said Robinson; "I most sincerely hope so." + +As he stood up to answer his senior partner he saw that Miss Brown +was standing behind her father, and he resolved that, as regarded +this occasion, he would not be taunted with want of spirit. + +"But what shall I say to the man?" asked Mr. Brown. + +"Give him a shilling and a glass of spirits; beg him to keep the +people quiet outside, and promise him cold beef and beer at three +o'clock. If he runs rusty, send for me." And then, having thus +instructed the head of the house, he again seated himself before his +writing materials at the table. + +"Mr. Robinson," said a soft voice, speaking to him through the +doorway, as soon as the ponderous step of the old man was heard +descending the stairs. + +"Yes; I am here," said he. + +"I don't know whether I may open the door," said she; "for I would +not for worlds intrude upon your studies." + +He knew that she was a Harpy. He knew that her soft words would only +bring him to new grief. But yet he could not help himself. Strong, in +so much else, he was utterly weak in her hands. She was a Harpy who +would claw out his heart and feed upon it, without one tender feeling +of her own. He had learned to read her character, and to know her for +what she was. But yet he could not help himself. + +"There will be no intrusion," he said. "In half an hour from this +time, I go with this copy to the printer's. Till then I am at rest." + +"At rest!" said she. "How sweet it must be to rest after labours such +as yours! Though you and I are two, Mr. Robinson, who was once one, +still I hear of you, and--sometimes think of you." + +"I am surprised that you should turn your thoughts to anything so +insignificant," he replied. + +"Ah! that is so like you. You are so scornful, and so proud,--and +never so proud as when pretending to be humble. I sometimes think +that it is better that you and I are two, because you are so proud. +What could a poor girl like me have done to satisfy you?" + +False and cruel that she was! 'Tis thus that the basilisk charms the +poor bird that falls a victim into its jaws. + +"It is better that we should have parted," said he. "Though I still +love you with my whole heart, I know that it is better." + +"Oh, Mr. Robinson!" + +"And I would that your nuptials with that man in Aldersgate Street +were already celebrated." + +"Oh, you cruel, heartless man!" + +"For then I should be able to rest. If you were once another's, I +should then know--" + +"You would know what, Mr. Robinson?" + +"That you could never be mine. Maryanne!" + +"Sir!" + +"If you would not have me disgrace myself for ever by my folly, leave +me now." + +"Disgrace yourself! I'm sure you'll never do that. 'Whatever happens +George Robinson will always act the gentleman,' I have said of you, +times after times, both to father and to William Brisket. 'So he +will!' father has answered. And then William Brisket has said--; I +don't know whether I ought to tell you what he said. But what he said +was this--'If you're so fond of the fellow, why don't you have him?'" + +All this was false, and Robinson knew that it was false. No such +conversation had ever passed. Nevertheless, the pulses of his heart +were stirred. + +"Tell me this," said he. "Are you his promised wife?" + +"Laws, Mr. Robinson!" + +"Answer me honestly, if you can. Is that man to be your husband? If +it be so it will be well for him, and well for you, but, above all, +it will be well for me, that we should part. And if it be so, why +have you come hither to torment me?" + +"To torment you, George!" + +"Yes; to torment me!" And then he rose suddenly from his feet, and +advanced with rapid step and fierce gesture towards the astonished +girl. "Think you that love such as mine is no torment? Think you that +I have no heart, no feeling; that this passion which tears me in +pieces can exist without throwing a cloud upon my life? With you, as +I know too well, all is calm and tranquil. Your bosom boils with no +ferment. It has never boiled. It will never boil. It can never boil. +It is better for you so. You will marry that man, whose house is +good, and whose furniture has been paid for. From his shop will come +to you your daily meals,--and you will be happy. Man wants but little +here below, nor wants that little long. Adieu." + +"Oh, George, are you going so?" + +"Yes; I am going. Why should I stay? Did I not with my own hand in +this room renounce you?" + +"Yes; you did, George. You did renounce me, and that's what's killing +me. So it is,--killing me." Then she threw herself into a chair and +buried her face in her handkerchief. + +"Would that we could all die," he said, "and that everything should +end. But now I go to the printer's. Adieu, Maryanne." + +"But we shall see each other occasionally,--as friends?" + +"To what purpose? No; certainly not as friends. To me such a trial +would be beyond my strength." And then he seized the copy from the +table, and taking his hat from the peg, he hurried out of the room. + +"As William is so stiff about the money, I don't know whether it +wouldn't be best after all," said she, as she took herself back to +her father's apartments. + +Mr. Brown, when he met the policeman, found that that excellent +officer was open to reason, and that when properly addressed he did +not actually insist on the withdrawal of the notice from the window. +"Every man's house is his castle, you know," said Mr. Brown. To this +the policeman demurred, suggesting that the law quoted did not refer +to crowded thoroughfares. But when invited to a collation at three +o'clock, he remarked that he might as well abstain from action till +that hour, and that he would in the meantime confine his beat to the +close vicinity of Magenta House. A friendly arrangement grew out +of this, which for awhile was convenient to both parties, and two +policemen remained in the front of the house, and occasionally +entered the premises in search of refreshment. + +After breakfast on the Thursday the fourth notice was put up:-- + + + The public of London will be glad to learn that Brown, + Jones, and Robinson have recovered the greatest part + of their paper which was in the hands of Johnson of + Manchester. Bills to the amount of fifteen thousand + pounds are, however, still missing. + + +It was immediately after this that the second policeman was +considered to be essentially necessary. The whole house, including +the young men and women of the shop, were animated with an enthusiasm +which spread itself even to the light porter of the establishment. +The conduct of Johnson, and his probable fate, were discussed aloud +among those who believed in him, while they who were incredulous +communicated their want of faith to each other in whispers. Mr. Brown +was smiling, affable, and happy; and Jones arrived on the Friday +morning with a new set of torquoise studs in his shirt. Why men +and women should have come to the house for gloves, stockings, and +ribbons, because Johnson of Manchester was said to have run away, it +may be difficult to explain. But such undoubtedly was the fact, and +the sales during that week were so great, as to make it seem that +actual commercial prosperity was at hand. + +"If we could only keep up the ball!" said Robinson. + +"Couldn't we change it to Tomkins of Leeds next week?" suggested +Jones. + +"I rather fear that the joke might be thought stale," replied +Robinson, with a good-natured smile. "There is nothing so fickle as +the taste of the public. The most popular author of the day can never +count on favour for the next six months." And he bethought himself +that, great as he was at the present moment, he also might be +eclipsed, and perhaps forgotten, before the posters which he was then +preparing had been torn down or become soiled. + +On the Friday no less than four letters appeared in the daily +Jupiter, all dated from Manchester, all signed by men of the name +of Johnson, and all denying that the writer of that special letter +had had any dealings whatever with Brown, Jones, and Robinson, of +Bishopsgate Street, London. There was "Johnson Brothers," "Johnson +and Co.," "Alfred Johnson and Son," and "Johnson and Johnson;" and in +one of those letters a suggestion was made that B., J., and R., of +London, should state plainly who was the special Johnson that had +gone off with the paper belonging to their house. + +"I know we shall be detected," said Mr. Brown, upon whose feelings +these letters did not act favourably. + +"There is nothing to detect," said Robinson; "but I will write a +letter to the editor." + +This he did, stating that for reasons which must be quite obvious to +the commercial reading public, it would be very unwise in the present +state of affairs to give any detailed description of that Mr. Johnson +who had been named; but that B., J., and R. were very happy to +be able to certify that that Mr. Johnson who had failed in his +engagements to them was connected neither with Johnson Brothers, or +Johnson and Co.; nor with Alfred Johnson and Son, or Johnson and +Johnson. This also acted as an advertisement, and no doubt brought +grist to the mill. + +On the evening of that same Friday a small note in a scented envelope +was found by Robinson on his table when he returned upstairs from the +shop. Well did he know the handwriting, and often in earlier days +had he opened such notes with mixed feelings of joy and triumph. All +those past letters had been kept by him, and were now lying under +lock and key in his desk, tied together with green silk, ready to be +returned when the absolute fact of that other marriage should have +become a certainty. He half made up his mind to return the present +missive unopened. He knew that good could not arise from a renewed +correspondence. Nevertheless, he tore asunder the envelope, and the +words which met his eye were as follows:-- + + + Miss Brown's compliments to Mr. Robinson, and will Mr. + Robinson tea with us in papa's room on Saturday, at six + o'clock? There will be nobody else but Mr. and Mrs. + Poppins, that used to be Miss Twizzle. Papa, perhaps, will + have to go back to the shop when he's done tea. Miss Brown + hopes Mr. Robinson will remember old days, and not make + himself scornful. + + +"Scornful!" said he. "Ha! ha! Yes; I scorn her;--I do scorn her. But +still I love her." Then he sat down and accepted the invitation. + + + Mr. Robinson presents his compliments to Miss Brown, and + will do himself the honour of accepting her kind invitation + for to-morrow evening. Mr. Robinson begs to assure Miss + Brown that he would have great pleasure in meeting any of + Miss Brown's friends whom she might choose to ask. + + +"Psha!" said Maryanne, when she read it. "It would serve him right +to ask Bill. And I would, too, only--." Only it would hardly have +answered her purpose, she might have said, had she spoken out her +mind freely. + +In the meantime the interest as to Johnson of Manchester was reaching +its climax. At ten o'clock on Saturday morning each division of the +window was nearly covered by an enormous bill, on which in very large +letters it was stated that-- + + + Johnson of Manchester has been taken. + + +From that till twelve the shop was inundated by persons who were +bent on learning what was the appearance and likeness of Johnson. +Photographers came to inquire in what gaol he was at present held, +and a man who casts heads in plaster of Paris was very intent upon +seeing him. No information could, of course, be given by the men and +women behind the counters. Among them there was at present raging a +violent discussion as to the existence or non-existence of Johnson. +It was pleasant to hear Jones repeating the circumstances to the +senior partner. "Mr. Brown, there's Miss Glassbrook gone over to the +anti-Johnsonites. I think we ought to give her a month's notice." +To those who inquired of Mr. Brown himself, he merely lifted up his +hands and shook his head. Jones professed that he believed the man to +be in the underground cells of Newgate. + +The bill respecting Johnson's capture remained up for two hours, and +then it was exchanged for another;-- + + + Johnson has escaped, but no expense + shall be spared in his recapture. + + +At four in the afternoon the public was informed as follows;-- + + + Johnson has got off, and sailed for America. + + +And then there was one other, which closed the play late on Saturday +evening;-- + + + Brown, Jones, and Robinson beg to assure the public that + they shall be put out of all suspense early on Monday + morning. + + +"And what shall we really say to them on Monday?" asked Mr. Jones. + +"Nothing at all," replied Mr. Robinson. "The thing will be dead by +that time. If they call, say that he's in Canada." + +"And won't there be any more about it?" + +"Nothing, I should think. We, however, have gained our object. The +house will be remembered, and so will the name of Brown, Jones, and +Robinson." + +And it was so. When the Monday morning came the windows were without +special notices, and the world walked by in silence, as though +Johnson of Manchester had never existed. Some few eager inquirers +called at the shop, but they were answered easily; and before the +afternoon the name had almost died away behind the counters. "I knew +I was right," said Miss Glassbrook, and Mr. Jones heard her say so. + +In and about the shop Johnson of Manchester was heard of no more, but +in Mr. Brown's own family there was still a certain interest attached +to the name. How it came about that this was so, shall be told in the +next chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +SAMSON AND DELILAH. + + +In the commercial world of London there was one man who was really +anxious to know what were the actual facts of the case with reference +to Johnson of Manchester. This was Mr. William Brisket, whose mind at +this time was perplexed by grievous doubts. He was called upon to act +in a case of great emergency, and was by no means sure that he saw +his way. It had been hinted to him by Miss Brown, on the one side, +that it behoved her to look to herself, and take her pigs to market +without any more shilly-shallying,--by which expression the fair +girl had intended to signify that it would suit her now to name +her wedding-day. And he had been informed by Mr. Brown, on the +other side, that that sum of five hundred pounds should be now +forthcoming;--or, if not actually the money, Mr. Brown's promissory +note at six months should be handed to him, dated from the day of his +marriage with Maryanne. + +Under these circumstances, he did not see his way. That the house in +Bishopsgate Street was doing a large business he did not doubt. He +visited the place often, and usually found the shop crowded. But he +did doubt whether that business was very lucrative. It might be that +the whole thing was a bubble, and that it would be burst before that +bill should have been honoured. In such case, he would have saddled +himself with an empty-handed wife, and would decidedly not have seen +his way. In this emergency he went to Jones and asked his advice. +Jones told him confidentially that, though the bill of the firm for +five thousand pounds would be as good as paper from the Bank of +England, the bill of Mr. Brown himself as an individual would be +worth nothing. + +Although Mr. Brisket had gone to Jones as a friend, there had been +some very sharp words between them before they separated. Brisket +knew well enough that all the ready money at the command of the firm +had belonged to Mr. Brown, and he now took upon himself to say that +Maryanne had a right to her share. Jones replied that there was no +longer anything to share, and that Maryanne's future husband must +wait for her fortune till her father could pay it out of his income. +"I couldn't see my way like that; not at all," said Brisket. And then +there had been high words between them. + +It was at this time that the first act of Johnson of Manchester's +little comedy was being played, and people in Mr. Brisket's world +were beginning to talk about the matter. "They must be doing a deal +of trade," said one. "Believe me, it is all flash and sham," said +another. "I happen to know that old Brown did go down to Manchester +and see Johnson there," said the first. "There is no such person at +all," said the second. So this went on till Mr. Brisket resolved that +his immediate matrimony should depend on the reality of Johnson's +existence. If it should appear that Johnson, with all his paper, was +a false meteor; that no one had deceived the metropolitan public; +that no one had been taken and had then escaped, he would tell Miss +Brown that he did not see his way. The light of his intelligence told +him that promissory notes from such a source, even though signed by +all the firm, would be illusory. If, on the other hand, Johnson of +Manchester had been taken, then, he thought, he might accept the +bill--and wife. + +"Maryanne," he said to the young lady early on that day on which she +had afterwards had her interview with Robinson, "what's all this +about Johnson of Manchester?" + +"I know nothing about your Johnsons, nor yet about your Manchester," +said Miss Brown, standing with her back to her lover. At this time +she was waxing wroth with him, and had learned to hate his voice, +when he would tell her that he had not yet seen his way. + +"That's all very well, Maryanne; but I must know something before I +go on." + +"Who wants you to go on? Not I, I'm sure; nor anybody belonging to +me. If I do hate anything, it's them mercenary ways. There's one who +really loves me, who'd be above asking for a shilling, if I'd only +put out my hand to him." + +"If you say that again, Maryanne, I'll punch his head." + +"You're always talking of punching people's heads; but I don't see +you do so much. I shouldn't wonder if you don't want to punch my head +some of these days." + +"Maryanne, I never riz a hand to a woman yet." + +"And you'd better not, as far as I'm concerned,--not as long as the +pokers and tongs are about." And then there was silence between them +for awhile. + +"Maryanne," he began again, "can't you find out about this Johnson?" + +"No; I can't," said she. + +"You'd better." + +"Then I won't," said she. + +"I'll tell you what it is, then, Maryanne. I don't see my way the +least in life about this money." + +"Drat your way! Who cares about your way?" + +"That's all very fine, Maryanne; but I care. I'm a man as is as good +as my word, and always was. I defy Brown, Jones, and Robinson to say +that I'm off, carrying anybody's paper. And as for paper, it's a +thing as I knows nothing about, and never wish. When a man comes to +paper, it seems to me there's a very thin wall betwixt him and the +gutter. When I buys a score of sheep or so, I pays for them down; and +when I sells a leg of mutton, I expects no less myself. I don't owe +a shilling to no one, and don't mean; and the less that any one owes +me, the better I like it. But Maryanne, when a man trades in that +way, a man must see his way. If he goes about in the dark, or with +his eyes shut, he's safe to get a fall. Now about this five hundred +pound; if I could only see my way--." + +As to the good sense of Mr. Brisket's remarks, there was no +difference of opinion between him and his intended wife. Miss +Brown would at that time have been quite contented to enter into +partnership for life on those terms. And though these memoirs are +written with the express view of advocating a theory of trade founded +on quite a different basis, nevertheless, it may be admitted that Mr. +Brisket's view of commerce has its charms, presuming that a man has +the wherewithal. But such a view is apt to lose its charms in female +eyes if it be insisted on too often, or too violently. Maryanne had +long since given in her adhesion to Mr. Brisket's theory; but now, +weary with repetition of the lesson, she was disposed to rebel. + +"Now, William Brisket," she said, "just listen to me. If you talk to +me again about seeing your way, you may go and see it by yourself. +I'm not so badly off that I'm going to have myself twitted at in that +way. If you don't like me, you can do the other thing. And this I +will say, when a gentleman has spoken his mind free to a lady, and a +lady has given her answer free back to him, it's a very mean thing +for a gentleman to be saying so much about money after that. Of +course, a girl has got herself to look to; and if I take up with you, +why, of course, I have to say, 'Stand off,' to any other young man as +may wish to keep me company. Now, there's one as shall be nameless +that wouldn't demean himself to say a word about money." + +"Because he ain't got none himself, as I take it." + +"He's a partner in a first-rate commercial firm. And I'll tell you +what, William Brisket, I'll not hear a word said against him, and +I'll not be put upon myself. So now I wishes you good morning." And +so she left him. + +Brisket, when he was alone, scratched his head, and thought wistfully +of his love. "I should like to see my way," said he. "I always did +like to see my way. And as for that old man's bit of paper--" Then he +relapsed once again into silence. + +It was within an hour of all this that Maryanne had followed her +father to George Robinson's room. She had declared her utter +indifference as to Johnson of Manchester; but yet it might, perhaps, +be as well that she should learn the truth. From her father she had +tried to get it, but he had succeeded in keeping her in the dark. To +Jones it would be impossible that she should apply; but from Robinson +she might succeed in obtaining his secret. She had heard, no doubt, +of Samson and Delilah, and thought she knew the way to the strong +man's locks. And might it not be well for her to forget that other +Samson, and once more to trust herself to her father's partners? When +she weighed the two young tradesmen one against the other, balancing +their claims with such judgment as she possessed, she doubted much as +to her choice. She thought that she might be happy with either;--but +then it was necessary that the other dear charmer should be away. +As to Robinson, he would marry her, she knew, at once, without any +stipulations. As to Brisket,--if Brisket should be her ultimate +choice,--it would be necessary that she should either worry her +father out of the money, or else cheat her lover into the belief that +the money would be forthcoming. Having taken all these circumstances +into consideration, she invited Mr. Robinson to tea. + +Mr. Brown was there, of course, and so also were Mr. and Mrs. +Poppins. When Robinson entered, they were already at the tea-table, +and the great demerits of Johnson of Manchester were under +discussion. + +"Now Mr. Robinson will tell us everything," said Mrs. Poppins. "It's +about Johnson, you know. Where has he gone to, Mr. Robinson?" But +Robinson professed that he did not know. + +"He knows well enough," said Maryanne, "only he's so close. Now do +tell us." + +"He'll tell _you_ anything _you_ choose to ask him," said Mrs. +Poppins. + +"Tell me anything! Not him, indeed. What does he care for me?" + +"I'm sure he would if he only knew what you were saying before he +came into the room." + +"Now don't, Polly!" + +"Oh, but I shall! because it's better he should know." + +"Now, Polly, if you don't hold your tongue, I'll be angry! Mr. +Robinson is nothing to me, and never will be, I'm sure. Only if he'd +do me the favour, as a friend, to tell us about Mr. Johnson, I'd take +it kind of him." + +In the meantime Mr. Brown and his young married guest were discussing +things commercial on their own side of the room, and Poppins, also, +was not without a hope that he might learn the secret. Poppins had +rather despised the firm at first, as not a few others had done, +distrusting all their earlier assurances as to trade bargains, and +having been even unmoved by the men in armour. But the great affair +of Johnson of Manchester had overcome even his doubts, and he began +to feel that it was a privilege to be noticed by the senior partner +in a house which could play such a game as that. It was not that +Poppins believed in Johnson, or that he thought that 15,000_l._ of +paper had at any time been missing. But, nevertheless, the proceeding +had affected his mind favourably with reference to Brown, Jones, +and Robinson, and brought it about that he now respected them,--and, +perhaps, feared them a little, though he had not respected or feared +them heretofore. Had he been the possessor of a wholesale house of +business, he would not now have dared to refuse them goods on credit, +though he would have done so before Johnson of Manchester had become +known to the world. It may therefore be surmised that George Robinson +had been right, and that he had understood the ways of British trade +when he composed the Johnsonian drama. + +"Indeed, I'd rather not, Mr. Poppins," said Mr. Brown. "Secrets in +trade should be secrets. And though Mr. Johnson has done us a deal of +mischief, we don't want to expose him." + +"But you've been exposing him ever so long," pleaded Poppins. + +"Now Poppins," said that gentleman's wife, "don't you be troubling +Mr. Brown. He's got other things to think of than answering your +questions. I should like to know myself, I own, because all the +town's talking about it. And it does seem odd to me that Maryanne +shouldn't know." + +"I don't, then," said Maryanne. "And I do think when a lady asks +a gentleman, the least thing a gentleman can do is to tell. But I +shan't ask no more,--not of Mr. Robinson. I was thinking--. But never +mind, Polly. Perhaps it's best as it is." + +"Would you have me betray my trust?" said Robinson. "Would you esteem +me the more because I had deceived my partners? If you think that +I am to earn your love in that way, you know but little of George +Robinson." Then he got up, preparing to leave the room, for his +feelings were too many for him. + +"Stop, George, stop," said Mr. Brown. + +"Let him go," said Maryanne. + +"If he goes away now I shall think him as hard as Adam," said Mrs. +Poppins. + +"There's three to one again him," said Mr. Poppins to himself. "What +chance can he have?" Mr. Poppins may probably have gone through some +such phase of life himself. + +"Let him go," said Maryanne again. "I wish he would. And then let him +never show himself here again." + +"George Robinson, my son, my son!" exclaimed the old man. + +It must be understood that Robinson had heard all this, though he had +left the room. Indeed, it may be surmised that had he been out of +hearing the words would not have been spoken. He heard them, for he +was still standing immediately beyond the door, and was irresolute +whether he would depart or whether he would return. + +"George Robinson, my son, my son!" exclaimed the old man again. + +"He shall come back!" said Mrs. Poppins, following him out of the +door. "He shall come back, though I have to carry him myself." + +"Polly," said Maryanne, "if you so much as whisper a word to ask him, +I'll never speak to you the longest day you have to live." + +But the threat was thrown away upon Mrs. Poppins, and, under her +auspices, Robinson was brought back into the room. "Maryanne," said +he, "will you renounce William Brisket?" + +"Laws, George!" said she. + +"Of course she will," said Mrs. Poppins, "and all the pomps and +vanities besides." + +"My son, my son!" said old Brown, lifting up both his hands. "My +daughter, my daughter! My children, my children!" And then he joined +their hands together and blessed them. + +He blessed them, and then went down into the shop. But before the +evening was over, Delilah had shorn Samson of his locks. "And so +there wasn't any Johnson after all," said she. + +But Robinson, as he returned home, walked again upon roses. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE WISDOM OF POPPINS. + + +George Robinson again walked upon roses, and for a while felt that +he had accomplished bliss. What has the world to offer equal to the +joy of gratified love? What triumph is there so triumphant as that +achieved by valour over beauty? + + + Take the goods the gods provide you. + The lovely Thais sits beside you. + + +Was not that the happiest moment in Alexander's life. Was it not +the climax of all his glories, and the sweetest drop which Fortune +poured into his cup? George Robinson now felt himself to be a second +Alexander. Beside him the lovely Thais was seated evening after +evening; and he, with no measured stint, took the goods the gods +provided. He would think of the night of that supper in Smithfield, +when the big Brisket sat next to his love, half hidden by her +spreading flounces, and would remember how, in his spleen, he had +likened his rival to an ox prepared for the sacrifice with garlands. +"Poor ignorant beast of the field!" he had said, apostrophizing the +unconscious Brisket, "how little knowest thou how ill those flowers +become thee, or for what purpose thou art thus caressed! They will +take from thee thy hide, thy fatness, all that thou hast, and divide +thy carcase among them. And yet thou thinkest thyself happy! Poor +foolish beast of the field!" Now that ox had escaped from the toils, +and a stag of the forest had been caught by his antlers, and was +bound for the altar. He knew all this, and yet he walked upon roses +and was happy. "Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof," he said +to himself. "The lovely Thais sits beside me. Shall I not take the +goods the gods provide me?" + +The lovely Thais sat beside him evening after evening for nearly +two months, up in Mr. Brown's parlour, but as yet nothing had +been decided as to the day of their marriage. Sometimes Mr. and +Mrs. Poppins would be there smiling, happy, and confidential; and +sometimes Mr. and Mrs. Jones careworn, greedy, and suspicious. On +those latter evenings the hours would all be spent in discussing the +profits of the shop and the fair division of the spoils. On this +subject Mrs. Jones would be very bitter, and even the lovely Thais +would have an opinion of her own which seemed to be anything but +agreeable to her father. + +"Maryanne," her lover said to her one evening, when words had been +rather high among them, "if you want your days to be long in the +land, you must honour your father and mother." + +"I don't want my days to be long, if we're never to come to an +understanding," she answered. "And I've got no mother, as you know +well, or you wouldn't treat me so." + +"You must understand, father," said Sarah Jane, "that things shan't +go on like this. Jones shall have his rights, though he don't +seem half man enough to stand up for them. What's the meaning of +partnership, if nobody's to know where the money goes to?" + +"I've worked like a horse," said Jones. "I'm never out of that place +from morning to night,--not so much as to get a pint of beer. And, as +far as I can see, I was better off when I was at Scrimble and Grutts. +I did get my salary regular." + +Mr. Brown was at this time in tears, and as he wept he lifted up +hands. "My children, my children!" said he. + +"That's all very well, father," said Maryanne. "But whimpering won't +keep anybody's pot a-boiling. I'm sick of this sort of thing, and, +to tell the truth, I think it quite time to see some sort of a house +over my head." + +"Would that I could seat you in marble halls!" said George Robinson. + +"Oh, bother!" said Maryanne. "That sort of a thing is very good +in a play, but business should be business." It must always be +acknowledged, in favour of Mr. Brown's youngest daughter, that her +views were practical, and not over-strained by romance. + +During these two or three months a considerable intimacy sprang up +between Mr. Poppins and George Robinson. It was not that there was +any similarity in their characters, for in most respects they were +essentially unlike each other. But, perhaps, this very difference led +to their friendship. How often may it be observed in the fields that +a high-bred, quick-paced horse will choose some lowly donkey for his +close companionship, although other horses of equal birth and speed +be in the same pasture! Poppins was a young man of an easy nature and +soft temper, who was content to let things pass by him unquestioned, +so long as they passed quietly. Live and let live, were words that +were often on his lips;--by which he intended to signify that he +would overlook the peccadilloes of other people, as long as other +people overlooked his own. When the lady who became afterwards Mrs. +Poppins had once called him a rascal, he had not with loud voice +asserted the injustice of the appellation, but had satisfied himself +with explaining to her that, even were it so, he was still fit for +her society. He possessed a practical philosophy of his own, by +which he was able to steer his course in life. He was not, perhaps, +prepared to give much to others, but neither did he expect that +much should be given to him. There was no ardent generosity in his +temperament; but then, also, there was no malice or grasping avarice. +If in one respect he differed much from our Mr. Robinson, so also +in another respect did he differ equally from our Mr. Jones. He +was at this time a counting-house clerk in a large wharfinger's +establishment, and had married on a salary of eighty pounds a year. +"I tell you what it is, Robinson," said he, about this time: "I don't +understand this business of yours." + +"No," said Robinson; "perhaps not. A business like ours is not easily +understood." + +"You don't seem to me to divide any profits." + +"In an affair of such magnitude the profits cannot be adjusted every +day, nor yet every month." + +"But a man wants his bread and cheese every day. Now, there's old +Brown. He's a deal sharper than I took him for." + +"Mr. Brown, for a commercial man of the old school, possesses +considerable intelligence," said Robinson. Throughout all these +memoirs, it may be observed that Mr. Robinson always speaks with +respect of Mr. Brown. + +"Very considerable indeed," said Poppins. "He seems to me to nobble +everything. Perhaps that was the old school. The young school ain't +so very different in that respect;--only, perhaps, there isn't so +much for them to nobble." + +"A regular division of our profits has been arranged for in our deed +of partnership," said Robinson. + +"That's uncommon nice, and very judicious," said Poppins. + +"It was thought to be so by our law advisers," said Robinson. + +"But yet, you see, old Brown nobbles the money. Now, if ever I goes +into partnership, I shall bargain to have the till for my share. You +never get near the till, do you?" + +"I attend to quite another branch of the business," said Robinson. + +"Then you're wrong. There's no branch of the business equal to the +ready money branch. Old Brown has lots of ready money always by him +now-a-days." + +It certainly was the case that the cash received day by day over the +counter was taken by Mr. Brown from the drawers and deposited by him +in the safe. The payments into the bank were made three times a week, +and the checks were all drawn by Mr. Brown. None of these had ever +been drawn except on behalf of the business; but then the payments +into the bank had by no means tallied with the cash taken; and +latterly,--for the last month or so,--the statements of the daily +cash taken had been very promiscuous. Some payments had, of course, +been made both to Jones and Robinson for their own expenses, but the +payments made by Mr. Brown to himself had probably greatly exceeded +these. He had a vague idea that he was supreme in money matters, +because he had introduced "capital" into the firm. George Robinson +had found it absolutely impossible to join himself in any league with +Jones, so that hitherto Mr. Brown had been able to carry out his own +theory. The motto, _Divide et impera_, was probably unknown to Mr. +Brown in those words, but he had undoubtedly been acting on the +wisdom which is conveyed in that doctrine. + +Jones and his wife were preparing themselves for war, and it was +plain to see that a storm of battle would soon be raging. Robinson +also was fully alive to the perils of his position, and anxious as he +was to remain on good terms with Mr. Brown, was aware that it would +be necessary for him to come to some understanding. In his difficulty +he had dropped some hints to his friend Poppins, not exactly +explaining the source of his embarrassment, but saying enough to make +that gentleman understand the way in which the firm was going on. + +"I suppose you're in earnest about that girl," said Poppins. Poppins +had an offhand, irreverent way of speaking, especially on subjects +which from their nature demanded delicacy, that was frequently +shocking to Robinson. + +"If you mean Miss Brown," said Robinson, in a tone of voice that was +intended to convey a rebuke, "I certainly am in earnest. My intention +is that she shall become Mrs. Robinson." + +"But when?" + +"As soon as prudence will permit and the lady will consent. Miss +Brown has never been used to hardship. For myself, I should little +care what privations I might be called on to bear, but I could hardly +endure to see her in want." + +"My advice to you is this. If you mean to marry her, do it at once. +If you and she together can't manage the old man, you can't be worth +your salt. If you can do that, then you can throw Jones overboard." + +"I am not in the least afraid of Jones." + +"Perhaps not; but still you'd better mind your P's and Q's. It seems +to me that you and he and the young women are at sixes and sevens, +and that's the reason why old Brown is able to nobble the money." + +"I certainly should be happier," said Robinson, "if I were married, +and things were settled." + +"As to marriage," said Poppins, "my opinion is this; if a man has to +do it, he might as well do it at once. They're always pecking at you; +and a fellow feels that if he's in for it, what's the good of his +fighting it out?" + +"I should never marry except for love," said Robinson. + +"Nor I neither," said Poppins. "That is, I couldn't bring myself to +put up with a hideous old hag, because she'd money. I should always +be wanting to throttle her. But as long as they're young, and soft, +and fresh, one can always love 'em;--at least I can." + +"I never loved but one," said Robinson. + +"There was a good many of them used to be pretty much the same to me. +They was all very well; but as to breaking my heart about them,--why, +it's a thing that I never understood." + +"Do you know, Poppins, what I did twice,--ay, thrice,--in those dark +days?" + +"What; when Brisket was after her?" + +"Yes; when she used to say that she loved another. Thrice did I +go down to the river bank, intending to terminate this wretched +existence." + +"Did you now?" + +"I swear to you that I did. But Providence, who foresaw the happiness +that is in store for me, withheld me from the leap." + +"Polly once took up with a sergeant, and I can't say I liked it." + +"And what did you do?" + +"I got uncommon drunk, and then I knocked the daylight out of him. +We've been the best of friends ever since. But about marrying;--if +a man is to do it, he'd better do it. It depends a good deal on the +young woman, of course, and whether she's comfortable in her mind. +Some women ain't comfortable, and then there's the devil to pay. You +don't get enough to eat, and nothing to drink; and if ever you leave +your pipe out of your pocket, she smashes it. I've know'd 'em of that +sort, and a man had better have the rheumatism constant." + +"I don't think Maryanne is like that." + +"Well; I can't say. Polly isn't. She's not over good, by no means, +and would a deal sooner sit in a arm-chair and have her victuals and +beer brought to her, than she'd break her back by working too hard. +She'd like to be always a-junketing, and that's what she's best +for,--as is the case with many of 'em." + +"I've seen her as sportive as a young fawn at the Hall of Harmony." + +"But she ain't a young fawn any longer; and as for harmony, it's my +idea that the less of harmony a young woman has the better. It makes +'em give themselves airs, and think as how their ten fingers were +made to put into yellow gloves, and that a young man hasn't nothing +to do but to stand treat, and whirl 'em about till he ain't able +to stand. A game's all very well, but bread and cheese is a deal +better." + +"I love to see beauty enjoying itself gracefully. My idea of a woman +is incompatible with the hard work of the world. I would fain do that +myself, so that she should ever be lovely." + +"But she won't be lovely a bit the more. She'll grow old all the +same, and take to drink very like. When she's got a red nose and a +pimply face, and a sharp tongue, you'd be glad enough to see her at +the wash-tub then. I remember an old song as my father used to sing, +but my mother couldn't endure to hear it. + + + Woman takes delight in abundance of pleasure, + But a man's life is to labour and toil. + + +That's about the truth of it, and that's what comes of your Halls of +Harmony." + +"You would like woman to be a household drudge." + +"So I would,--only drudge don't sound well. Call her a ministering +angel instead, and it comes to the same thing. They both of 'em +means much of a muchness;--getting up your linen decent, and seeing +that you have a bit of something hot when you come home late. Well, +good-night, old fellow. I shall have my hair combed if I stay much +longer. Take my advice, and as you mean to do it, do it at once. And +don't let the old 'un nobble all the money. Live and let live. That's +fair play all over." And so Mr. Poppins took his leave. + +Had anybody suggested to George Robinson that he should go to Poppins +for advice as to his course of life, George Robinson would have +scorned the suggestion. He knew very well the great difference +between him and his humble friend, both as regarded worldly position +and intellectual attainments. But, nevertheless, there was a strain +of wisdom in Poppins' remarks which, though it appertained wholly to +matters of low import, he did not disdain to use. It was true that +Maryanne Brown still frequented the Hall of Harmony, and went there +quite as often without her betrothed as with him. It was true that +Mr. Brown had adopted a habit of using the money of the firm, without +rendering a fair account of the purpose to which he applied it. +The Hall of Harmony might not be the best preparation for domestic +duties, nor Mr. Brown's method of applying the funds the best +specific for commercial success. He would look to both these things, +and see that some reform were made. Indeed, he would reform them both +entirely by insisting on a division of the profits, and by taking +Maryanne to his own bosom. Great ideas filled his mind. If any undue +opposition were made to his wishes when expressed, he would leave +the firm, break up the business, and carry his now well-known genius +for commercial enterprise to some other concern in which he might be +treated with a juster appreciation of his merits. + +"Not that I will ever leave thee, Maryanne," he said to himself, as +he resolved these things in his mind. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +MISTRESS MORONY. + + +It was about ten days after the conversation recorded in the last +chapter between Mr. Robinson and Mr. Poppins that an affair was +brought about through the imprudence and dishonesty of Mr. Jones, +which for some time prevented that settlement of matters on which Mr. +Robinson had resolved. During those ten days he had been occupied in +bringing his resolution to a fixed point; and then, when the day and +hour had come in which he intended to act, that event occurred which, +disgraceful as it is to the annals of the Firm, must now be told. + +There are certain small tricks of trade, well known to the lower +class of houses in that business to which Brown, Jones, and Robinson +had devoted themselves, which for a time may no doubt be profitable, +but which are very apt to bring disgrace and ruin upon those who +practise them. To such tricks as these Mr. Jones was wedded, and by +none of the arguments which he used in favour of a high moral tone +of commerce could Robinson prevail upon his partner to abandon them. +Nothing could exceed the obstinacy and blindness of Mr. Jones during +these discussions. When it was explained to him that the conduct he +was pursuing was hardly removed,--nay, it was not removed,--from +common swindling, he would reply that it was quite as honest as +Mr. Robinson's advertisements. He would quote especially those +Katakairion shirts which were obtained from Hodges, and of which the +sale at 39_s._ 6_d._ the half-dozen had by dint of a wide circulation +of notices become considerable. "If that isn't swindling, I don't +know what is," said Jones. + +"Do you know what Katakairion means?" said Robinson. + +"No; I don't," said Jones. "And I don't want to know." + +"Katakairion means 'fitting,'" said Robinson; "and the purchaser has +only to take care that the shirt he buys does fit, and then it is +Katakairion." + +"But we didn't invent them." + +"We invented the price and the name, and that's as much as anybody +does. But that is not all. It's a well-understood maxim in trade, +that a man may advertise whatever he chooses. We advertise to attract +notice, not to state facts. But it's a mean thing to pass off a false +article over the counter. If you will ticket your goods, you should +sell them according to the ticket." + +At first, the other partners had not objected to this ticketing, as +the practice is now common, and there is at first sight an apparent +honesty about it which has its seduction. A lady seeing 21_s._ 7_d._ +marked on a mantle in the window, is able to contemplate the desired +piece of goods and to compare it, in silent leisure, with her +finances. She can use all her power of eye, but, as a compensation to +the shopkeeper, is debarred from the power of touch; and then, having +satisfied herself as to the value of the thing inspected, she can go +in and buy without delay or trouble to the vendor. But it has been +found by practice that so true are the eyes of ladies that it is +useless to expose in shop-windows articles which are not good of +their kind, and cheap at the price named. To attract customers in +this way, real bargains must be exhibited; and when this is done, +ladies take advantage of the unwary tradesman, and unintended +sacrifices are made. George Robinson soon perceived this, and +suggested that the ticketing should be abandoned. Jones, however, +persevered, observing that he knew how to remedy the evil inherent +in the system. Hence difficulties arose, and, ultimately, disgrace, +which was very injurious to the Firm, and went near to break the +heart of Mr. Brown. + +According to Jones's plan, the articles ticketed in the window were +not, under any circumstances, to be sold. The shopmen, indeed, were +forbidden to remove them from their positions under any entreaties or +threats from the customers. The customer was to be at first informed, +with all the blandishment at the shopman's command, that the goods +furnished within the shop were exact counterparts of those exposed. +Then the shopman was to argue that the arrangements of the window +could not be disturbed. And should a persistent purchaser after that +insist on a supposed legal right, to buy the very thing ticketed, +Mr. Jones was to be called; in which case Mr. Jones would inform the +persistent purchaser that she was regarded as unreasonable, violent, +and disagreeable; and that, under such circumstances, her custom +was not wanted by Brown, Jones, and Robinson. The disappointed +female would generally leave the shop with some loud remarks as to +swindling, dishonesty, and pettifogging, to which Mr. Jones could +turn a deaf ear. But sometimes worse than this would ensue; ladies +would insist on their rights; scrambles would occur in order that +possession of the article might be obtained; the assistants in the +shop would not always take part with Mr. Jones; and, as has been +before said, serious difficulties would arise. + +There can be no doubt that Jones was very wrong. He usually was +wrong. His ideas of trade were mean, limited, and altogether +inappropriate to business on a large scale. But, nevertheless, we +cannot pass on to the narration of a circumstance as it did occur, +without expressing our strong abhorrence of those ladies who are +desirous of purchasing cheap goods to the manifest injury of the +tradesmen from whom they buy them. The ticketing of goods at prices +below their value is not to our taste, but the purchasing of such +goods is less so. The lady who will take advantage of a tradesman, +that she may fill her house with linen, or cover her back with +finery, at his cost, and in a manner which her own means would +not fairly permit, is, in our estimation,--a robber. It is often +necessary that tradesmen should advertise tremendous sacrifices. +It is sometimes necessary that they should actually make such +sacrifices. Brown, Jones, and Robinson have during their career +been driven to such a necessity. They have smiled upon their female +customers, using their sweetest blandishments, while those female +customers have abstracted their goods at prices almost nominal. +Brown, Jones, and Robinson, in forcing such sales, have been coerced +by the necessary laws of trade; but while smiling with all their +blandishments, they have known that the ladies on whom they have +smiled have been--robbers. + +Why is it that commercial honesty has so seldom charms for women? A +woman who would give away the last shawl from her back will insist on +smuggling her gloves through the Custom-house! Who can make a widow +understand that she should not communicate with her boy in the +colonies under the dishonest cover of a newspaper? Is not the passion +for cheap purchases altogether a female mania? And yet every cheap +purchase,--every purchase made at a rate so cheap as to deny the +vendor his fair profit is, in truth, a dishonesty;--a dishonesty to +which the purchaser is indirectly a party. Would that women could be +taught to hate bargains! How much less useless trash would there be +in our houses, and how much fewer tremendous sacrifices in our shops! + +Brown, Jones, and Robinson, when they had been established some six +or eight months, had managed to procure from a house in the silk +trade a few black silk mantles of a very superior description. The +lot had been a remnant, and had been obtained with sundry other goods +at a low figure. But, nevertheless, the proper price at which the +house could afford to sell them would exceed the mark of general +purchasers in Bishopsgate Street. These came into Mr. Jones' hands, +and he immediately resolved to use them for the purposes of the +window. Some half-dozen of them were very tastefully arranged upon +racks, and were marked at prices which were very tempting to ladies +of discernment. In the middle of one window there was a copious +mantle, of silk so thick that it stood almost alone, very full in +its dimensions, and admirable in its fashion. This mantle, which +would not have been dearly bought for 3_l._ 10_s._ or 4_l._, was +injudiciously ticketed at 38_s._ 11½_d._ "It will bring dozens of +women to the shop," said Jones, "and we have an article of the same +shape and colour, which we can do at that price uncommonly well." +Whether or no the mantle had brought dozens of women into the shop, +cannot now be said, but it certainly brought one there whom Brown, +Jones, and Robinson will long remember. + +Mrs. Morony was an Irishwoman who, as she assured the magistrates in +Worship Street, had lived in the very highest circles in Limerick, +and had come from a princely stock in the neighbouring county of +Glare. She was a full-sized lady, not without a certain amount +of good looks, though at the period of her intended purchase in +Bishopsgate Street, she must have been nearer fifty than forty. Her +face was florid, if not red, her arms were thick and powerful, her +eyes were bright, but, as seen by Brown, Jones, and Robinson, not +pleasant to the view, and she always carried with her an air of +undaunted resolution. When she entered the shop, she was accompanied +by a thin, acrid, unmarried female friend, whose feminine charms by +no means equalled her own. She might be of about the same age, but +she had more of the air and manner of advanced years. Her nose was +long, narrow and red; her eyes were set very near together; she was +tall and skimpy in all her proportions; and her name was Miss Biles. +Of the name and station of Mrs. Morony, or of Miss Biles, nothing +was of course known when they entered the shop; but with all these +circumstances, B., J., and R. were afterwards made acquainted. + +"I believe I'll just look at that pelisse, if you plaze," said Mrs. +Morony, addressing herself to a young man who stood near to the +window in which the mantle was displayed. + +"Certainly, ma'am," said the man. "If you'll step this way, I'll show +you the article." + +"I see the article there," said Mrs. Morony, poking at it with her +parasol. Standing where she did she was just able to touch it in this +way. "That's the one I mane, with the price;--how much was it, Miss +Biles?" + +"One, eighteen, eleven and a halfpenny," said Miss Biles, who had +learned the figures by heart before she ventured to enter the shop. + +"If you'll do me the favour to step this way I'll show you the same +article," said the man, who was now aware that it was his first duty +to get the ladies away from that neighbourhood. + +But Mrs. Morony did not move. "It's the one there that I'm asking +ye for," said she, pointing again, and pointing this time with the +hooked end of her parasol. "I'll throuble ye, young man, to show me +the article with the ticket." + +"The identical pelisse, if you please, sir," said Miss Biles, "which +you there advertise as for sale at one, eighteen, eleven and a +halfpenny." And then she pressed her lips together, and looked at the +shopman with such vehemence that her two eyes seemed to grow into +one. + +The poor man knew that he was in a difficulty, and cast his eyes +across the shop for assistance. Jones, who in his own branch was ever +on the watch,--and let praise for that diligence be duly given to +him,--had seen from the first what was in the wind. From the moment +in which the stout lady had raised her parasol he felt that a battle +was imminent; but he had thought it prudent to abstain awhile from +the combat himself. He hovered near, however, as personal protection +might be needed on behalf of the favourite ornament of his window. + +"I'll throuble you, if you plaze, sir, to raich me that pelisse," +said Mrs. Morony. + +"We never disturb our window," said the man, "but we keep the same +article in the shop." + +"Don't you be took in by that, Mrs. Morony," said Miss Biles. + +"I don't mane," said Mrs. Morony. "I shall insist, sir--" + +Now was the moment in which, as Jones felt, the interference of the +general himself was necessary. Mrs. Morony was in the act of turning +herself well round towards the window, so as to make herself sure +of her prey when she should resolve on grasping it. Miss Biles had +already her purse in her hand, ready to pay the legal claim. It was +clear to be seen that the enemy was of no mean skill and of great +valour. The intimidation of Mrs. Morony might be regarded as a feat +beyond the power of man. Her florid countenance had already become +more than ordinarily rubicund, and her nostrils were breathing anger. + +"Ma'am," said Mr. Jones, stepping up and ineffectually attempting to +interpose himself between her and the low barrier which protected +the goods exposed to view, "the young man has already told you that +we cannot disarrange the window. It is not our habit to do so. If +you will do me the honour to walk to a chair, he shall show you any +articles which you may desire to inspect." + +"Don't you be done," whispered Miss Biles. + +"I don't mane, if I know it," said Mrs. Morony, standing her ground +manfully. "I don't desire to inspect anything,--only that pelisse." + +"I am sorry that we cannot gratify you," said Mr. Jones. + +"But you must gratify me. It's for sale, and the money's on it." + +"You shall have the same article at the same price;" and Mr. Jones, +as he spoke, endeavoured to press the lady out of her position. "But +positively you cannot have that. We never break through our rules." + +"Chaiting the public is the chief of your rules, I'm thinking," said +Mrs. Morony; "but you'll not find it so aisy to chait me. Pay them +the money down on the counter, Miss Biles, dear." And so saying she +thrust forth her parasol, and succeeded in her attempt to dislodge +the prey. Knowing well where to strike her blow and obtain a hold, +she dragged forth the mantle, and almost got it into her left hand. +But Jones could not stand by and see his firm thus robbed. Dreadful +as was his foe in spirit, size, and strength, his manliness was too +great for this. So he also dashed forward, and was the first to grasp +the silk. + +"Are you going to rob the shop?" said he. + +"Is it rob?" said Mrs. Morony. "By the powers, thin, ye're the +biggest blag-guard my eyes have seen since I've been in London, and +that's saying a long word. Is it rob to me? I'll tell you what it is, +young man,--av you don't let your fingers off this pelisse that I've +purchased, I'll have you before the magisthrates for stailing it. +Have you paid the money down, dear?" + +Miss Biles was busy counting out the cash, but no one was at hand to +take it from her. It was clear that the two confederates had prepared +themselves at all points for the contest, having, no doubt, more than +once inspected the article from the outside,--for Miss Biles had +the exact sum ready, done to the odd halfpenny. "There," said she, +appealing to the young man who was nearest to her, "one, eighteen, +eleven, and a halfpenny." But the young man was deaf to the charmer, +even though she charmed with ready money. "May I trouble you to see +that the cash is right." But the young man would not be troubled. + +"You'd a deal better leave it go, ma'am," said Jones, "or I shall be +obliged to send for the police." + +"Is it the police? Faith, thin, and I think you'd better send! Give +me my mantilla, I say. It's bought and paid for at your own price." + +By this time there was a crowd in the shop, and Jones, in his anxiety +to defend the establishment, had closed with Mrs. Morony, and was, +as it were, wrestling with her. His effort, no doubt, had been to +disengage her hand from the unfortunate mantle; but in doing so, he +was led into some slight personal violence towards the lady. And now +Miss Biles, having deposited her money, attacked him from behind, +declaring that her friend would be murdered. + +"Come, hands off. A woman's a woman always!" said one of the crowd +who had gathered round them. + +"What does the man mean by hauling a female about that way?" said +another. + +"The poor crathur's nigh murthered wid him intirely," said a +countrywoman from the street. + +"If she's bought the thingumbob at your own price, why don't you give +it her?" asked a fourth. + +"I'll be hanged if she shall have it!" said Jones, panting for +breath. He was by no means deficient in spirit on such an occasion as +this. + +"And it's my belief you will be hanged," said Miss Biles, who was +still working away at his back. + +The scene was one which was not creditable to the shop of English +tradesmen in the nineteenth century. The young men and girls had come +round from behind the counter, but they made no attempt to separate +the combatants. Mr. Jones was not loved among them, and the chance of +war seemed to run very much in favour of the lady. One discreet youth +had gone out in quest of a policeman, but he was not successful in +his search till he had walked half a mile from the door. Mr. Jones +was at last nearly smothered in the encounter, for the great weight +and ample drapery of Mrs. Morony were beginning to tell upon him. +When she got his back against the counter, it was as though a feather +bed was upon him. In the meantime the unfortunate mantle had fared +badly between them, and was now not worth the purchase-money which, +but ten minutes since, had been so eagerly tendered for it. + +Things were in this state when Mr. Brown slowly descended into the +arena, while George Robinson, standing at the distant doorway in the +back, looked on with blushing cheeks. One of the girls had explained +to Mr. Brown what was the state of affairs, and he immediately +attempted to throw oil on the troubled waters. + +"Wherefore all this noise?" he said, raising both his hands as he +advanced slowly to the spot. "Mr. Jones, I implore you to desist!" +But Mr. Jones was wedged down upon the counter, and could not desist. + +"Madam, what can I do for you?" And he addressed himself to the back +of Mrs. Marony, which was still convulsed violently by her efforts to +pummel Mr. Jones. + +"I believe he's well nigh killed her; I believe he has," said Miss +Biles. + +Then, at last, the discreet youth returned with three policemen, and +the fight was at an end. That the victory was with Mrs. Morony nobody +could doubt. She held in her hand all but the smallest fragment of +the mantle,--the price of which, however, Miss Biles had been careful +to repocket,--and showed no sign of exhaustion, whereas Jones was +speechless. But, nevertheless, she was in tears, and appealed loudly +to the police and to the crowd as to her wrongs. + +"I'm fairly murthered with him, thin, so I am,--the baist, the +villain, the swindhler. What am I to do at all, and my things all +desthroyed? Look at this, thin!" and she held up the cause of war. +"Did mortial man iver see the like of that? And I'm beaten black and +blue wid him,--so I am." And then she sobbed violently. + +"So you are, Mrs. Morony," said Miss Biles. "He to call himself a man +indeed, and to go to strike a woman!" + +"It's thrue for you, dear," continued Mrs. Morony. "Policemen, mind, +I give him in charge. You're all witnesses, I give that man in +charge." + +Mr. Jones, also, was very eager to secure the intervention of the +police,--much more so than was Mr. Brown, who was only anxious that +everybody should retire. Mr. Jones could never be made to understand +that he had in any way been wrong. "A firm needn't sell an article +unless it pleases," he argued to the magistrate. "A firm is bound +to make good its promises, sir," replied the gentleman in Worship +Street. "And no respectable firm would for a moment hesitate to do +so." And then he made some remarks of a very severe nature. + +Mr. Brown did all that he could to prevent the affair from becoming +public. He attempted to bribe Mrs. Morony by presenting her with +the torn mantle; but she accepted the gift, and then preferred her +complaint. He bribed the policemen, also; but, nevertheless, the +matter got into the newspaper reports. The daily Jupiter, of course, +took it up,--for what does it not take up in its solicitude for poor +British human nature?--and tore Brown, Jones, and Robinson to pieces +in a leading article. No punishment could be inflicted on the firm, +for, as the magistrate said, no offence could be proved. The lady, +also, had certainly been wrong to help herself. But the whole affair +was damaging in the extreme to Magenta House, and gave a terrible +check to that rapid trade which had already sprang up under the +influence of an extended system of advertising. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +MISS BROWN NAMES THE DAY. + + +George Robinson had been in the very act of coming to an +understanding with Mr. Brown as to the proceeds of the business, when +he was interrupted by that terrible affair of Mrs. Morony. For some +days after that the whole establishment was engaged in thinking, +talking, and giving evidence about the matter, and it was all that +the firm could do to keep the retail trade going across the counter. +Some of the young men and women gave notice, and went away; and +others became so indifferent that it was necessary to get rid of +them. For a week it was doubtful whether it would be possible to +keep the house open, and during that week Mr. Brown was so paralyzed +by his feelings that he was unable to give any assistance. He sat +upstairs moaning, accompanied generally by his two daughters; and +he sent a medical certificate to Worship Street, testifying his +inability to appear before the magistrate. From what transpired +afterwards we may say that the magistrate would have treated him more +leniently than did the young women. They were aware that whatever +money yet remained was in his keeping; and now, as at the time of +their mother's death, it seemed fitting to them that a division +should be made of the spoils. + +"George," he said one evening to his junior partner, "I'd like to be +laid decent in Kensal Green! I know it will come to that soon." + +Robinson hereupon reminded him that care had killed a cat; and +promised him all manner of commercial greatness if he could only +rouse himself to his work. "The career of a merchant prince is still +open to you," said Robinson, enthusiastically. + +"Not along with Maryanne and Sarah Jane, George!" + +"Sarah Jane is a married woman, and sits at another man's hearth. Why +do you allow her to trouble you?" + +"She is my child, George. A man can't deny himself to his child. At +least I could not. And I don't want to be a merchant prince. If I +could only have a little place of my own, that was my own; and where +they wouldn't always be nagging after money when they come to see +me." + +Poor Mr. Brown! He was asking from the fairies that for which we are +all asking,--for which men have ever asked. He merely desired the +comforts of the world, without its cares. He wanted his small farm of +a few acres, as Horace wanted it, and Cincinnatus, and thousands of +statesmen, soldiers, and merchants, from their days down to ours; his +small farm, on which, however, the sun must always shine, and where +no weeds should flourish. Poor Mr. Brown! Such little farms for +the comforts of old age can only be attained by long and unwearied +cultivation during the years of youth and manhood. + +It was on one occasion such as this, not very long after the affair +of Mrs. Morony, that Robinson pressed very eagerly upon Mr. Brown the +special necessity which demanded from the firm at the present moment +more than ordinary efforts in the way of advertisement. + +"Jones has given us a great blow," said Robinson. + +"I fear he has," said Mr. Brown. + +"And now, if we do not put our best foot forward it will be all up +with us. If we flag now, people will see that we are down. But if we +go on with audacity, all those reports will die away, and we shall +again trick our beams, and flame once more in the morning sky." + +It may be presumed that Mr. Brown did not exactly follow the +quotation, but the eloquence of Robinson had its desired effect. Mr. +Brown did at last produce a sum of five hundred pounds, with which +printers, stationers, and advertising agents were paid or partially +paid, and Robinson again went to work. + +"It's the last," said Mr. Brown, with a low moan, "and would have +been Maryanne's!" + +Robinson, when he heard this, was much struck by the old man's +enduring courage. How had he been able to preserve this sum from the +young woman's hands, pressed as he had been by her and by Brisket? Of +this Robinson said nothing, but he did venture to allude to the fact +that the money must, in fact, belong to the firm. + +This is here mentioned chiefly as showing the reason why Robinson did +not for awhile renew the business on which he was engaged when Mrs. +Morony's presence in the shop was announced. He felt that no private +matter should be allowed for a time to interfere with his renewed +exertions; and he also felt that as Mr. Brown had responded to his +entreaties in that matter of the five hundred pounds, it would not +become him to attack the old man again immediately. For three months +he applied himself solely to business; and then, when affairs had +partially been restored under his guidance, he again resolved, under +the further instigation of Poppins, to put things at once on a proper +footing. + +"So you ain't spliced yet," said Poppins. + +"No, not yet." + +"Nor won't be,--not to Maryanne Brown. There was my wife at +Brisket's, in Aldersgate Street, yesterday, and we all know what that +means." + +"What does it mean?" demanded Robinson, scowling fearfully. "Would +you hint to me that she is false?" + +"False! No! she's not false that I know of. She's ready enough to +have you, if you can put yourself right with the old man. But if +you can't,--why, of course, she's not to wait till her hair's grey. +She and Polly are as thick as thieves, and so Polly has been to +Aldersgate Street. Polly says that the Jones's are getting their +money regularly out of the till." + +"Wait till her hair be grey!" said Robinson, when he was left to +himself. "Do I wish her to wait? Would I not stand with her at the +altar to-morrow, though my last half-crown should go to the greedy +priest who joined us? And she has sent her friend to Aldersgate +Street,--to my rival! There must, at any rate, be an end of this!" + +Late on that evening, when his work was over, he took a glass of hot +brandy-and-water at the "Four Swans," and then he waited upon Mr. +Brown. He luckily found the senior partner alone. "Mr. Brown," said +he, "I've come to have a little private conversation." + +"Private, George! Well, I'm all alone. Maryanne is with Mrs. Poppins, +I think." + +With Mrs. Poppins! Yes; and where might she not be with Mrs. Poppins? +Robinson felt that he had it within him at that moment to start +off for Aldersgate Street. "But first to business," said he, as he +remembered the special object for which he had come. + +"For the present it is well that she should be away," he said. "Mr. +Brown, the time has now come at which it is absolutely necessary that +I should know where I am." + +"Where you are, George?" + +"Yes; on what ground I stand. Who I am before the world, and what +interest I represent. Is it the fact that I am the junior partner in +the house of Brown, Jones, and Robinson?" + +"Why, George, of course you are." + +"And is it the fact that by the deed of partnership drawn up between +us, I am entitled to receive one quarter of the proceeds of the +business?" + +"No, George, no; not proceeds." + +"What then?" + +"Profits, George; one quarter of the profits." + +"And what is my share for the year now over?" + +"You have lived, George; you must always remember that. It is a great +thing in itself even to live out of a trade in these days. You have +lived; you must acknowledge that." + +"Mr. Brown, I am not a greedy man, nor a suspicious man, nor an idle +man, nor a man of pleasure. But I am a man in love." + +"And she shall be yours, George." + +"Ay, sir, that is easily said. She shall be mine, and in order that +she may be mine, I must request to know what is accurately the state +of our account?" + +"George," said Mr. Brown in a piteous accent, "you and I have always +been friends." + +"But there are those who will do much for their enemies out of fear, +though they will do nothing for their friends out of love. Jones has +a regular income out of the business." + +"Only forty shillings or so on every Saturday night; nothing more, on +my honour. And then they've babbies, you know, and they must live." + +"By the terms of our partnership I am entitled to as much as he." + +"But then, George, suppose that nobody is entitled to nothing! +Suppose there is no profits. We all must live, you know, but then +it's only hand to mouth; is it?" + +How terrible was this statement as to the affairs of the firm, +coming, as it did, from the senior partner, who not more than twelve +months since entered the business with a sum of four thousand pounds +in hard cash! Robinson, whose natural spirit in such matters was +sanguine and buoyant, felt that even he was depressed. Had four +thousand pounds gone, and was there no profit? He knew well that the +stock on hand would not even pay the debts that were due. The shop +had always been full, and the men and women at the counter had always +been busy. The books had nominally been kept by himself; but who can +keep the books of a concern, if he be left in ignorance as to the +outgoings and incomings? + +"That comes of attempting to do business on a basis of capital!" he +said in a voice of anger. + +"It comes of advertising, George. It comes of little silver books, +and big wooden stockings, and men in armour, and cats-carrion shirts; +that's what it's come from, George." + +"Never," said Robinson, rising from his chair with energetic action. +"Never. You may as well tell me that the needle does not point to the +pole, that the planets have not their appointed courses, that the +swelling river does not run to the sea. There are facts as to which +the world has ceased to dispute, and this is one of them. Advertise, +advertise, advertise! It may be that we have fallen short in our +duty; but the performance of a duty can never do an injury." In reply +to this, old Brown merely shook his head. "Do you know what Barlywig +has spent on his physic; Barlywig's Medean Potion? Forty thousand +a-year for the last ten years, and now Barlywig is worth;--I don't +know what Barlywig is worth; but I know he is in Parliament." + +"We haven't stuff to go on like that, George." In answer to this, +Robinson knew not what to urge, but he did know that his system was +right. + +At this moment the door was opened, and Maryanne Brown entered the +room. "Father," she said, as soon as her foot was over the threshold +of the door; but then seeing that Mr. Brown was not alone, she +stopped herself. There was an angry spot on her cheeks, and it was +manifest from the tone of her voice that she was about to address her +father in anger. "Oh, George; so you are there, are you? I suppose +you came, because you knew I was out." + +"I came, Maryanne," said he, putting out his hand to her, "I came--to +settle our wedding day." + +"My children, my children!" said Mr. Brown. + +"That's all very fine," said Maryanne; "but I've heard so much about +wedding days, that I'm sick of it, and don't mean to have none." + +"What; you will never be a bride?" + +"No; I won't. What's the use?" + +"You shall be my bride;--to-morrow if you will." + +"I'll tell you what it is, George Robinson; my belief of you is, that +you are that soft, a man might steal away your toes without your feet +missing 'em." + +"You have stolen away my heart, and my body is all the lighter." + +"It's light enough; there's no doubt of that, and so is your head. +Your heels too were, once, but you've given up that." + +"Yes, Maryanne. When a man commences the stern realities of life, +that must be abandoned. But now I am anxious to commence a reality +which is not stern,--that reality which is for me to soften all the +hardness of this hardworking world. Maryanne, when shall be our +wedding day?" + +For a while the fair beauty was coy, and would give no decisive +answer; but at length under the united pressure of her father and +lover, a day was named. A day was named, and Mr. Brown's consent to +that day was obtained; but this arrangement was not made till he had +undertaken to give up the rooms in which he at present lived, and to +go into lodgings in the neighbourhood. + +"George," said she, in a confidential whisper, before the evening was +over, "if you don't manage about the cash now, and have it all your +own way, you must be soft." Under the influence of gratified love, he +promised her that he would manage it. + +"Bless you, my children, bless you," said Mr. Brown, as they parted +for the night. "Bless you, and may your loves be lasting, and your +children obedient." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +SHOWING HOW ROBINSON WALKED UPON ROSES. + + +"Will it ever be said of me when my history is told that I spent +forty thousand pounds a-year in advertising a single article? Would +that it might be told that I had spent ten times forty thousand." It +was thus that Robinson had once spoken to his friend Poppins, while +some remnant of that five hundred pounds was still in his hands. + +"But what good does it do? It don't make anything." + +"But it sells them, Poppins." + +"Everybody wears a shirt, and no one wears more than one at a time. I +don't see that it does any good." + +"It is a magnificent trade in itself. Would that I had a monopoly of +all the walls in London! The very arches of the bridges must be worth +ten thousand a-year. The omnibuses are invaluable; the cabs are a +mine of wealth; and the railway stations throughout England would +give a revenue for an emperor. Poppins, my dear fellow, I fancy that +you have hardly looked into the depths of it." + +"Perhaps not," said Poppins. "Some objects to them that they're all +lies. It isn't that I mind. As far as I can see, everything is mostly +lies. The very worst article our people can get for sale, they call +'middlings;' the real middlings are 'very superior,' and so on. +They're all lies; but they don't cost anything, and all the world +knows what they mean. Bad things must be bought and sold, and if +we said our things was bad, nobody would buy them. But I can't +understand throwing away so much money and getting nothing." + +Poppins possessed a glimmering of light, but it was only a +glimmering. He could understand that a man should not call his own +goods middling; but he could not understand that a man is only +carrying out the same principle in an advanced degree, when he +proclaims with a hundred thousand voices in a hundred thousand +places, that the article which he desires to sell is the best of +its kind that the world has yet produced. He merely asserts with +his loudest voice that his middlings are not middlings. A little +man can see that he must not cry stinking fish against himself; +but it requires a great man to understand that in order to abstain +effectually from so suicidal a proclamation, he must declare with +all the voice of his lungs, that his fish are that moment hardly out +of the ocean. "It's the poetry of euphemism," Robinson once said to +Poppins;--but he might as well have talked Greek to him. + +Robinson often complained that no one understood him; but he forgot +that it is the fate of great men generally to work alone, and to +be not comprehended. The higher a man raises his head, the more +necessary is it that he should learn to lean only on his own +strength, and to walk his path without even the assistance of +sympathy. The greedy Jones had friends. Poppins with his easy +epicurean laisser aller,--he had friends. The decent Brown, who would +so fain be comfortable, had friends. But for Robinson, there was no +one on whose shoulder he could rest his head, and from whose heart +and voice he could receive sympathy and encouragement. + +From one congenial soul,--from one soul that he had hoped to +find congenial,--he did look for solace; but even here he was +disappointed. It has been told that Maryanne Brown did at last +consent to name the day. This occurred in May, and the day named was +in August. Robinson was very anxious to fix it at an earlier period, +and the good-natured girl would have consented to arrange everything +within a fortnight. "What's the use of shilly-shallying?" said she +to her father. "If it is to be done, let it be done at once. I'm so +knocked about among you, I hardly know where I am." But Mr. Brown +would not consent. Mr. Brown was very feeble, but yet he was very +obstinate. It would often seem that he was beaten away from his +purpose, and yet he would hang on it with more tenacity than that of +a stronger man. "Town is empty in August, George, and then you can be +spared for a run to Margate for two or three days." + +"Oh, we don't want any nonsense," said Maryanne; "do we, George?" + +"All I want is your own self," said Robinson. + +"Then you won't mind going into lodgings for a few months," said +Brown. + +Robinson would have put up with an attic, had she he loved consented +to spread her bridal couch so humbly; but Maryanne declared with +resolution that she would not marry till she saw herself in +possession of the rooms over the shop. + +"There'll be room for us all for awhile," said old Brown. + +"I think we might manage," said George. + +"I know a trick worth two of that," said the lady. "Who's to make pa +go when once we begin in that way? As I mean to end, so I'll begin. +And as for you, George, there's no end to your softness. You're that +green, that the very cows would eat you." Was it not well said by +Mr. Robinson in his preface to these memoirs, that the poor old +commercial Lear, whose name stood at the head of the firm, was cursed +with a Goneril,--and with a Regan? + +But nothing would induce Mr. Brown to leave his home, or to say that +he would leave his home, before the middle of August, and thus the +happy day was postponed till that time. + +"There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip," said Poppins, +when he was told. "Do you take care that she and Polly ain't off to +Aldersgate Street together." + +"Poppins, I wouldn't be cursed with your ideas of human nature,--not +for a free use of all the stations on the North Western. Go to +Aldersgate Street now that she is my affianced bride!" + +"That's gammon," said Poppins. "When once she's married she'll go +straight enough. I believe that of her, for she knows which side her +bread's buttered. But till the splice is made she's a right to please +herself; that's the way she looks at it." + +"And will it not please her to become mine?" + +"It's about the same with 'em all," continued Poppins. "My Polly +would have been at Hong Kong with the Buffs by this time, if I hadn't +knocked the daylight out of that sergeant." And Poppins, from the +tone in which he spoke of his own deeds, seemed to look back upon his +feat of valour with less satisfaction than it had given him at the +moment. Polly was his own certainly; but the comfort of his small +menage was somewhat disturbed by his increasing family. + +But to return. Robinson, as we have said, looked in vain to his +future partner in life for a full appreciation of his own views as to +commerce. "It's all very well, I daresay," said she; "but one should +feel one's way." + +"When you launch your ship into the sea," he replied, "you do not +want to feel your way. You know that the waves will bear her up, and +you send her forth boldly. As wood will float upon water, so will +commerce float on the ocean streams of advertisement." + +"But if you ran aground in the mud, where are you then? Do you take +care, George, or your boat 'll be water-logged." + +It was during some of these conversations that Delilah cut another +lock of hair from Samson's head, and induced him to confess that he +had obtained that sum of five hundred pounds from her father, and +spent it among those who prepared for him his advertisements. "No!" +said she, jumping up from her seat. "Then he had it after all?" + +"Yes; he certainly had it." + +"Well, that passes. And after all he said!" + +A glimmering of the truth struck coldly upon Robinson's heart. She +had endeavoured to get from her father this sum and had failed. She +had failed, and the old man had sworn to her that he had it not. But +for what purpose had she so eagerly demanded it? "Maryanne," he said, +"if you love another more fondly than you love me--" + +"Don't bother about love, George, now. And so you got it out of him +and sent it all flying after the rest. I didn't think you were that +powerful." + +"The money, Maryanne, belonged to the firm." + +"Gracious knows who it belongs to now. But, laws;--when I think of +all that he said, it's quite dreadful. One can't believe a word that +comes out of his mouth." + +Robinson also thought that it was quite dreadful when he reflected +on all that she must have said before she had given up the task as +helpless. Then, too, an idea came upon him of what he might have to +endure when he and she should be one bone and one flesh. How charming +was she to the eyes! how luxuriously attractive, when in her softer +moments she would laugh, and smile, and joke at the winged hours +as they passed! But already was he almost afraid of her voice, and +already did he dread the fiercer glances of her eyes. Was he wise in +this that he was doing? Had he not one bride in commerce, a bride +that would never scold; and would it not be well for him to trust +his happiness to her alone? So he argued within his own breast. But +nevertheless, Love was still the lord of all. + +"And the money's all gone?" said Maryanne. + +"Indeed it is. Would I had as many thousands to send after it." + +"It was like your folly, George, not to keep a little of it by you, +knowing how comfortable it would have been for us at the beginning." + +"But, my darling, it belonged to the firm." + +"The firm! Arn't they all helping themselves hand over hand, except +you? There was Sarah Jane in the shop behind the counter all +yesterday afternoon. Now, I tell you what it is; if she's to come in +I won't stand it. She's not there for nothing, and she with children +at home. No wonder she can keep a nursemaid, if that's where she +spends her time. If you would go down more into the shop, George, and +write less of them little books in verse, it would be better for us +all." + +And so the time passed on towards August, and the fifteenth of that +month still remained fixed as the happy day. Robinson spent some +portion of this time in establishing a method of advertisement, which +he flattered himself was altogether new; but it must be admitted in +these pages that his means for carrying it out were not sufficient. +In accordance with this project it would have been necessary to +secure the co-operation of all the tailors' foremen in London, and +this could not be done without a douceur to the men. His idea was, +that for a period of a month in the heart of the London season, no +new coat should be sent home to any gentleman without containing in +the pocket one of those alluring little silver books, put out by +Brown, Jones, and Robinson. + +"The thing is, to get them opened and looked at," said Robinson. +"Now, I put it to you, Poppins, whether you wouldn't open a book like +that if you found that somebody had put it into your tail coat." + +"Well, I should open it." + +"You would be more or less than mortal did you not? If it's thrown +into your cab, you throw it out. If a man hands it to you in the +street, you drop it. If it comes by post, you throw it into the +waste-paper basket. But I'll defy the sternest or the idlest man not +to open the leaves of such a work as that when he first takes it out +of his new dress-coat. Surprise will make him do so. Why should his +tailor send him the book of B., J., and R.? There must be something +in it. The name of B., J., and R., becomes fixed in his memory, and +then the work is done. If the tailors had been true to me, I might +have defied the world." But the tailors were not true to him. + +During all this time nothing was heard of Brisket. It could not be +doubted that Brisket, busy among his bullocks in Aldersgate Street, +knew well what was passing among the Browns in Bishopsgate Street. +Once or twice it occurred to Robinson that the young women, Maryanne +namely and Mrs. Poppins, expected some intervention from the butcher. +Was it possible that Mr. Brisket might be expected to entertain less +mercenary ideas when he found that his prize was really to be carried +off by another? But whatever may have been the expectations of the +ladies, Brisket made no sign. He hadn't seen his way, and therefore +he had retired from the path of love. + +But Brisket, even though he did not see his way, was open to female +seduction. Why was it, that at this eventful period of Robinson's +existence Mrs. Poppins should have turned against him? Why his old +friend, Polly Twizzle, should have gone over to his rival, Robinson +never knew. It may have been because, in his humble way, Poppins +himself stood firmly by his friend; for such often is the nature of +women. Be that as it may, Mrs. Poppins, who is now again his fast +friend, was then his enemy. + +"We shall have to go to this wedding of George's," Poppins said +to his wife, when the first week in August had already passed. "I +suppose old Pikes 'ill give me a morning." Old Pikes was a partner in +the house to which Mr. Poppins was attached. + +"I shan't buy my bonnet yet awhile," said Mrs. Poppins. + +"And why not, Polly?" + +"For reasons that I know of." + +"But what reasons?" + +"You men are always half blind, and t'other half stupid. Don't you +see that she's not going to have him?" + +"She must be pretty sharp changing her mind, then. Here's Tuesday +already, and next Tuesday is to be the day." + +"Then it won't be next Tuesday; nor yet any Tuesday this month. +Brisket's after her again." + +"I don't believe it, Polly." + +"Then disbelieve it. I was with him yesterday, and I'll tell you who +was there before me;--only don't you go to Robinson and say I said +so." + +"If I can't make sport, I shan't spoil none," said Poppins. + +"Well, Jones was there. Jones was with Brisket, and Jones told him +that if he'd come forward now he should have a hundred down, and a +promise from the firm for the rest of it." + +"Then Jones is a scoundrel." + +"I don't know about that," said Mrs. Poppins. "Maryanne is his wife's +sister, and he's bound to do the best he can by her. Brisket is a +deal steadier man than Georgy Robinson, and won't have to look for +his bread so soon, I'm thinking." + +"He hasn't half the brains," said Poppins. + +"Brains is like soft words; they won't butter no parsnips." + +"And you've been with Brisket?" said the husband. + +"Yes; why not? Brisket and I was always friends. I'm not going to +quarrel with Brisket because Georgy Robinson is afraid of him. I knew +how it would be with Robinson when he didn't stand up to Brisket that +night at the Hall of Harmony. What's a man worth if he won't stand up +for his young woman? If you hadn't stood up for me I wouldn't have +had you." And so ended that conversation. + +"A hundred pounds down?" said Brisket to Jones the next day. + +"Yes, and our bill for the remainder." + +"The cash on the nail." + +"Paid into your hand," said Jones. + +"I think I should see my way," said Brisket; "at any rate I'll come +up on Saturday." + +"Much better say to-morrow, or Friday." + +"Can't. It's little Gogham Fair on Friday; and I always kills on +Thursday." + +"Saturday will be very late." + +"There'll be time enough if you've got the money ready. You've spoken +to old Brown, I suppose. I'll be up as soon after six on Saturday +evening as I can come. If Maryanne wants to see me, she'll find me +here. It won't be the first time." + +Thus was it that among his enemies the happiness of Robinson's life +was destroyed. Against Brisket he breathes not a word. The course was +open to both of them; and if Brisket was the best horse, why, let him +win! + +But in what words would it be right to depict the conduct of Jones? + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +A TEA-PARTY IN BISHOPSGATE STREET. + + +If it shall appear to those who read these memoirs that there was +much in the conduct of Mr. Brown which deserves censure, let them +also remember how much there was in his position which demands pity. +In this short narrative it has been our purpose to set forth the +commercial doings of the house of Brown, Jones, and Robinson, rather +than the domestic life of the partners, and, therefore, it has been +impossible to tell of all the trials through which Mr. Brown passed +with his children. But those trials were very severe, and if Mr. +Brown was on certain points untrue to the young partner who trusted +him, allowances for such untruth must be made. He was untrue; but +there is one man, who, looking back upon his conduct, knows how to +forgive it. + +The scenes upstairs at Magenta House during that first week in August +had been very terrible. Mr. Brown, in his anxiety to see his daughter +settled, had undoubtedly pledged himself to abandon the rooms in +which he lived, and to take lodgings elsewhere. To this promised +self-sacrifice Maryanne was resolved to keep him bound; and when some +hesitation appeared on his part, she swore to him that nothing should +induce her to become Mrs. Robinson till he had packed his things +and was gone. Mr. Brown had a heart to feel, and at this moment he +could have told how much sharper than a serpent's tooth is a child's +ingratitude! + +But he would have gone; he would have left the house, although he had +begun to comprehend that in leaving it he must probably lose much of +his authority over the money taken in the shop; he would, however, +have done so, had not Mrs. Jones come down upon him with the whole +force of her tongue, and the full violence of her malice. When +Robinson should have become one with Maryanne Brown, and should also +have become the resident partner, then would the influence of Mrs. +Jones in that establishment have been brought to a speedy close. + +The reader shall not be troubled with those frightful quarrels in +which each of the family was pitted against the others. Sarah Jane +declared to her father, in terms which no child should have used to +her parent, that he must be an idiot and doting if he allowed his +youngest daughter and her lover to oust him from his house and from +all share in the management of the business. Brown then appealed +piteously to Maryanne, and begged that he might be allowed to occupy +a small closet as his bed-room. But Maryanne was inexorable. He had +undertaken to go, and unless he did go she would never omit to din +into his ears this breach of his direct promise to her. Maryanne +became almost great in her anger, as with voice raised so as to drown +her sister's weaker tones, she poured forth her own story of her own +wrongs. + +"It has been so from the beginning," she said. "When I first knew +Brisket, it was not for any love I had for the man, but because +mother took him up. Mother promised him money; and then I said +I'd marry him,--not because I cared for him, but because he was +respectable and all right. And then mother hadn't the money when the +pinch came, and, of course, Brisket wasn't going to be put upon;--why +should he? So I took up with Robinson, and you knew it, father." + +"I did, Maryanne; I did." + +"Of course you did. I wasn't going to make a fool of myself for no +man. I have got myself to look to; and if I don't do it myself, they +who is about me won't do it for me." + +"Your old father would do anything for you." + +"Father, I hate words! What I want is deeds. Well, then;--Robinson +came here and was your partner, and meanwhile I thought it was all +right. And who was it interfered? Why, you did. When Brisket went to +you, you promised him the money: and then he went and upset Robinson. +And we had that supper in Smithfield, and Robinson was off, and I was +to be Mrs. Brisket out of hand. But then, again, the money wasn't +there." + +"I couldn't make the money, Maryanne." + +"Father, it's a shame for you to tell such falsehoods before your own +daughters." + +"Oh, Maryanne! you wicked girl!" said Sarah Jane. + +"If I'm wicked, there's two of us so, Sarah Jane! You had the money, +and you gave it to Robinson for them notices of his. I know all about +it now! And then what could you expect of Brisket? Of course he was +off. There was no fal-lal about love, and all that, with him. He +wanted a woman to look after his house; but he wanted something with +her. And I wanted a roof over my head;--which I'm not likely to have, +the way you're going on." + +"While I have a morsel, you shall have half." + +"And when you haven't a morsel, how will it be then? Of course when +I saw all this, I felt myself put upon. There was Jones getting his +money out of the shop!" + +"Well, miss," said Sarah Jane; "and isn't he a partner?" + +"You ain't a partner, and I don't know what business you have there. +But every one was helping themselves except me. I was going to the +wall. I have always been going to the wall. Well; when Brisket was +off, I took up with Robinson again. I always liked him the best, only +I never thought of my own likings. I wasn't that selfish. I took up +with Robinson again; but I wasn't going to be any man's wife, if he +couldn't put a roof over my head. Well, father, you know what was +said then, and now you're going back from it." + +"I suppose you'd better have Mr. Brisket," said the old man, after a +pause. + +"Will you give Brisket those five hundred pounds?" And then those +embassies to Aldersgate Street were made by Mrs. Poppins and by Mr. +Jones. During this time Maryanne, having spoken her mind freely, +remained silent and sullen. That her father would not go out on the +appointed day, she knew. That she would not marry Robinson unless he +did, she knew also. She did not like Brisket; but, as she had said, +she was not so selfish as to let that stand in the way. If it was to +be Brisket, let it be Brisket. Only let something be done. + +Only let something be done. It certainly was not a matter of surprise +that she should demand so much. It must be acknowledged that all +connected with the firm and family began to feel that the house of +Brown, Jones, and Robinson, had not succeeded in establishing itself +on a sound basis. Mr. Brown was despondent, and often unwell. The +Jones's were actuated by no ambition to raise themselves to the +position of British merchants, but by a greedy desire to get what +little might be gotten in the scramble. Robinson still kept his +shoulder to the collar, but he did so with but little hope. He had +made a fatal mistake in leaguing himself with uncongenial partners, +and began to feel that this mistake must be expiated by the ruin of +his present venture. Under such circumstances Maryanne Brown was not +unreasonable in desiring that something should be done. She had now +given a tacit consent to that plan for bringing back Brisket, and +consequently her brother-in-law went at once to work. + +It must be acknowledged that the time was short. When Brisket, with +such easy indifference, postponed his visit to Bishopsgate Street +till the Saturday, giving to Gogham Market and the slaughtering of +his beasts a preference to the renewal of his love, he regarded the +task before him as a light one. But it must be supposed that it was +no light task to Miss Brown. On the Tuesday following that Saturday, +she would, if she were true to her word, join herself in wedlock to +George Robinson. She now purposed to be untrue to her word; but it +must be presumed that she had some misgivings at the heart when she +thought of the task before her. + +On the Thursday and the Friday she managed to avoid Robinson. On the +Saturday morning they met in her father's room for a minute, and when +he attempted to exercise a privilege to which his near approaching +nuptials certainly entitled him, she repulsed him sullenly: "Oh, +come; none of that." "I shall require the more on Tuesday," he +replied, with his ordinary good-humour. She spoke nothing further to +him then, but left the room and went away to her friend Mrs. Poppins. + +Robinson belonged to a political debating club, which met on every +Saturday evening at the "Goose and Gridiron" in one of the lanes +behind the church in Fleet Street. It was, therefore, considered that +the new compact might be made in Bishopsgate Street on that evening +without any danger of interruption from him. But at the hour of +dinner on that day, a word was whispered into his ear by Poppins. "I +don't suppose you care about it," said he, "but there's going to be +some sort of doing at the old man's this evening." + +"What doing?" + +"It's all right, I suppose; but Brisket is going to be there. It's +just a farewell call, I suppose." + +"Brisket with my love!" said Robinson. "Then will I be there also." + +"Don't forget that you've got to chaw up old Crowdy on the paper +question. What will the Geese do if you're not there?" The club in +question was ordinarily called the Goose Club, and the members were +in common parlance called "The Geese." + +"I will be there also," said Robinson. "But if I should be late, you +will tell the Geese why it is so." + +"They all know you are going to be married," said Poppins. And then +they parted. + +The hour at which the parliament of the Geese assembled was, as a +rule, a quarter before eight in the evening, so that the debate might +absolutely begin at eight. Seven was the hour for tea in Bishopsgate +Street, but on the present occasion Brisket was asked for half-past +seven, so that Robinson's absence might be counted on as a certainty. +At half-past seven to the moment Brisket was there, and the greeting +between him and Maryanne was not of a passionate nature. + +"Well, old girl, here I am again," he said, as he swung his burly +body into the room. + +"I see you," she said, as she half reluctantly gave him her hand. +"But remember, it wasn't me who sent for you. I'd just as lief you +stayed away." And then they went to business. + +Both Jones and his wife were there; and it may perhaps be said, that +if Maryanne Brown had any sincerity of feeling at her heart, it was +one of hatred for her brother-in-law. But now, this new change in her +fortunes was being brought about by his interference, and he was, as +it were, acting as her guardian. This was very bitter to her, and she +sat on one side in sullen silence, and to all appearance paid no heed +to what was being said. + +The minds of them all were so intent on the business part of the +transaction that the banquet was allowed to remain untouched till all +the preliminaries were settled. There was the tea left to draw till +it should be as bitter as Maryanne's temper, and the sally luns +were becoming as cold as Sarah Jane's heart. Mr. Brown did, in some +half-bashful manner, make an attempt at performing the duties of a +host. "My dears, won't Mr. Brisket have his dish of tea now it's +here?" But "my dears" were deaf to the hint. Maryanne still sat +sullen in the corner, and Sarah Jane stood bolt upright, with ears +erect, ready to listen, ready to speak, ready to interfere with +violence should the moment come when anything was to be gained on her +side by doing so. + +They went to the work in hand, with very little of the preamble of +courtesy. Yes; Brisket would marry her on the terms proposed by +Jones. He could see his way if he had a hundred pounds down, and the +bill of the Firm at three months for the remaining sum. + +"Not three months, Brisket; six months," suggested Brown. But in this +matter Brisket was quite firm, and Mr. Brown gave way. + +But, as all of them knew, the heat of the battle would concern the +names which were to be written on the bill. Brisket demanded that +the bill should be from the firm. Jones held that as a majority of +the firm were willing that this should be so, Mr. Brown was legally +entitled to make the bill payable at the bank out of the funds of the +house. In this absurd opinion he was supported violently by his wife. +Brisket, of course, gave no opinion on the subject. It was not for +him to interfere among the partners. All he said was, that the bill +of the firm had been promised to him, and that he shouldn't see his +way with anything else. Mr. Brown hesitated,--pondering painfully +over the deed he was called upon to do. He knew that he was being +asked to rob the man he loved;--but he knew also, that if he did not +do so, he must go forth from his home. And then, when he might be in +want of comfort, the child for whose sake he should do so would turn +from him without love or pity. + +"Jones and me would do it together," said Mr. Brown. + +"Jones won't do nothing of the kind," said Jones's careful wife. + +"It would be no good if he did," said Brisket. "And, I'll tell you +what it is, I'm not going to be made a fool of; I must know how it's +to be at once, or I'm off." And he put out his hand as though to take +up his hat. + +"What fools you are!" said Maryanne, speaking from her chair in the +corner. "There's not one of you knows George Robinson. Ask him to +give his name to the bill, and he'll do it instantly." + +"Who is it wants the name of George Robinson?" said the voice of that +injured man, as at the moment he entered the room. "George Robinson +is here." And then he looked round upon the assembled councillors, +and his eyes rested at last with mingled scorn and sorrow upon the +face of Maryanne Brown;--with mingled scorn and sorrow, but not with +anger. "George Robinson is here; who wants his name?--and why?" + +"Will you take a cup of tea, George?" said Mr. Brown, as soon as he +was able to overcome his first dismay. + +"Maryanne," said Robinson, "why is that man here?" and he pointed to +Brisket. + +"Ask them," said Maryanne, and she turned her face away from him, in +towards the wall. + +"Mr. Brown, why is he here? Why is your daughter's former lover here +on the eve of her marriage with me?" + +"I will answer that question, if you please," said Jones, stepping +up. + +"You!" And Robinson, looking at him from head to foot, silenced him +with his look. "You answer me! From you I will take no answer in this +matter. With you I will hold no parley on this subject. I have spoken +to two whom I loved, and they have given me no reply. There is one +here whom I do not love and he shall answer me. Mr. Brisket, though I +have not loved you, I have believed you to be an honest man. Why are +you here?" + +"To see if we can agree about my marrying that young woman," said +Brisket, nodding at her with his head, while he still kept his hands +in his trousers' pockets. + +"Ah! Is it so? There she is, Mr. Brisket; and now, for the third +time, I shall go out from your presence, renouncing her charms in +your favour. When first I did so at the dancing-room, I was afraid of +your brute strength, because the crowd was looking on and I knew you +could carry out your unmanly threat. And when I wrote that paper the +second time, you had again threatened me, and I was again afraid. My +heart was high on other matters, and why should I have sacrificed +myself? Now I renounce her again; but I am not afraid,--for my heart +is high on nothing." + +"George, George!" said Maryanne, jumping from her seat. "Leave him, +leave him, and I'll promise--" And then she seized hold of his arm. +For the moment some touch of a woman's feeling had reached her heart. +At that instant she perhaps recognized,--if only for the instant, +that true love is worth more than comfort, worth more than well +assured rations of bread and meat, and a secure roof. For that once +she felt rather than understood that an honest heart is better than a +strong arm. But it was too late. + + +[Illustration: Robinson defies his rival.] + + +"No," said he, "I'll have no promise from you;--your words are false. +I've humbled myself as the dust beneath your feet, because I loved +you,--and, therefore, you have treated me as the dust. The man who +will crawl to a woman will ever be so treated." + +"You are about right there, old fellow," said Brisket. + +"Leave me, I say." For still she held his arm. She still held his +arm, for she saw by his eye what he intended, though no one else had +seen. + +"You have twitted me with my cowardice," he said; "but you shall +see that I am no coward. He is the coward!" and he pointed with his +finger to Brisket. "He is the coward, for he will undergo no risk." +And then, without further notice, George Robinson flew at the +butcher's throat. + +It was very clear that Brisket himself had suspected no such attack, +for till the moment at which he felt Robinson's fingers about his +cravat, he had still stood with his hands in the pockets of his +trousers. He was very strong, and when his thoughts were well made up +to the idea of a fight, could in his own way be quick enough with his +fists; but otherwise he was slow in action, nor was he in any way +passionate. + +"Halloo," he said, striving to extricate himself, and hardly able +to articulate, as the handkerchief tightened itself about his neck. +"Ugh-h-h." And getting his arm round Robinson's ribs he tried to +squeeze his assailant till he should drop his hold. + +"I will have his tongue from his mouth," shouted Robinson, and as he +spoke, he gave another twist to the handkerchief. + +"Oh, laws," said Mrs. Jones. "The poor man will be choked," and she +laid hold of the tail of Robinson's coat, pulling at it with all her +strength. + +"Don't, don't," said Mr. Brown. "George, George, you shall have her; +indeed you shall,--only leave him." + +Maryanne the while looked on, as ladies of yore did look on when +knights slaughtered each other for their smiles. And perhaps of yore +the hearts of those who did look on were as cold and callous as was +hers. For one moment of enthusiasm she had thought she loved, but now +again she was indifferent. It might be settled as well this way as +any other. + +At length Brisket succeeded in actually forcing his weak assailant +from him, Mrs. Jones the while lending him considerable assistance; +and then he raised his heavy fist. Robinson was there opposite to +him, helpless and exhausted, just within his reach; and he raised his +heavy fist to strike him down. + +He raised his fist, and then he let it fall. "No," said he; "I'm +blowed if I'll hit you. You're better stuff than I thought you was. +And now look here, young man; there she is. If she'll say that she'll +have you, I'll walk out, and I won't come across you or she any +more." + +Maryanne, when she heard this, raised her face and looked steadily at +Robinson. If, however, she had any hope, that hope was fruitless. + +"I have renounced her twice," said he, "and now I renounce her +again. It is not now from fear. Mr. Brown, you have my authority for +accepting that bill in the name of the Firm." Then he left the room +and went forth into the street. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +AN EVENING AT THE "GOOSE AND GRIDIRON." + + +Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and +Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied +the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings +farther west. In some respects they did so, and were perhaps even +servile in their imitation. They divided themselves into parties, of +which each had an ostensible leader. But then there was always some +ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather +round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming +between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from +beneath his feet by new aspirants. The members never called each +other by their own names, but addressed each always as "The worthy +Goose," speaking at such moments with the utmost courtesy. This +would still be done, though the speaker were using all his energy +to show that that other Goose was in every sense unworthy. They had +a perpetual chairman, for whom they affected the most unbounded +respect. He was generally called "The Grand," his full title being +"The Most Worthy Grand Goose;" and members on their legs, when they +wished to address the meeting with special eloquence, and were +about to speak words which they thought peculiarly fit for public +attention, would generally begin by thus invoking him. "Most Worthy +Grand," they would say. But this when done by others than well +accustomed speakers, was considered as a work either of arrogance +or of ignorance. This great officer was much loved among them, and +familiarly he was called "My Grand." Though there was an immensity of +talk at these meetings, men speaking sometimes by the half hour whose +silence the club would have been willing to purchase almost at any +price, there were not above four established orators. There were +four orators, of each of whom it was said that he copied the manner +and tone of some great speaker in that other society. There was our +friend Robinson, who in the elegance of his words, and the brilliancy +of his ideas, far surpassed any other Goose. His words were +irresistible, and his power in that assembly unequalled. But yet, as +many said, it was power working only for evil. The liberal party to +which he had joined himself did not dare to stand without him; but +yet, if the whispers that got abroad were true, they would only too +gladly have dispensed with him. He was terrible as a friend; but then +he could be more terrible as a foe. + +Then there was Crowdy,--Crowdy, whose high-flown ideas hardly tallied +with the stern realities of his life. Crowdy was the leader of those +who had once held firmly by Protection. Crowdy had been staunchly +true to his party since he had a party, though it had been said of +him that the adventures of Crowdy in search of a party had been very +long and very various. There had been no Goose with a bitterer tongue +than Crowdy; but now in these days a spirit of quiescence had fallen +on him; and though he spoke as often as ever, he did not wield so +deadly a tomahawk. + +Then there was the burly Buggins, than whom no Goose had a more +fluent use of his vernacular. He was not polished as Robinson, nor +had he ever possessed the exquisite keenness of Crowdy. But in +speaking he always hit the nail on the head, and carried his hearers +with him by the energy and perspicuity of his argument. But by +degrees the world of the Goose and Gridiron had learned that Buggins +talked of things which he did not understand, and which he had not +studied. His facts would not bear the light. Words fell from his +mouth sweeter than honey; but sweet as they were they were of no +avail. It was pleasant to hear Buggins talk, but men knew that it was +useless. + +But perhaps the most remarkable Goose in that assembly, as decidedly +he was the most popular, was old Pan. He traced his birth to the +mighty blood of the great Pancabinets, whose noble name he still +proudly bore. Every one liked old Pancabinet, and though he did not +now possess, and never had possessed, those grand oratorical powers +which distinguished so highly the worthy Geese above mentioned, no +Goose ever rose upon his legs more sure of respectful attention. The +sway which he bore in that assembly was very wonderful, for he was an +old man, and there were there divers Geese of unruly spirit. Lately +he had associated himself much with our friend Robinson, for which +many blamed him. But old Pancabinet generally knew what he was about, +and having recognized the tremendous power of the young merchant from +Bishopsgate Street, was full sure that he could get on better with +him than he could against him. + +It was pleasant to see "My Grand" as he sat in his big arm-chair, +with his beer before him, and his long pipe in his mouth. A benign +smile was ever on his face, and yet he showed himself plainly +conscious that authority lived in his slightest word, and that he had +but to nod to be obeyed. That pipe was constant in his hand, and was +the weapon with which he signified his approbation of the speakers. +When any great orator would arise and address him as Most Worthy +Grand, he would lay his pipe for an instant on the table, and, +crossing his hands on his ample waistcoat, would bow serenely to the +Goose on his legs. Then, not allowing the spark to be extinguished +on his tobacco, he would resume the clay, and spread out over his +head and shoulders a long soft cloud of odorous smoke. But when any +upstart so addressed him,--any Goose not entitled by character to +use the sonorous phrase,--he would still retain his pipe, and simply +wink his eye. It was said that this distinction quite equalled the +difference between big type and little. Perhaps the qualification +which was most valued among The Geese, and most specially valued by +The Worthy Grand, was a knowledge of the Forms of the Room, as it was +called. These rules or formulas, which had probably been gradually +invented for the complication of things which had once been too +simple, were so numerous that no Goose could remember them all who +was not very constant in his attention, and endowed with an accurate +memory. And in this respect they were no doubt useful;--that when +young and unskilled Geese tried to monopolize the attention of the +Room, they would be constantly checked and snubbed, and at last +subdued and silenced, by some reference to a forgotten form. No Goose +could hope to get through a lengthy speech without such interruption +till he had made the Forms of the Room a long and painful study. + +On the evening in question,--that same evening on which Robinson +had endeavoured to tear out the tongue of Brisket,--the Geese were +assembled before eight o'clock. A motion that had been made elsewhere +for the repeal of the paper duties was to be discussed. It was known +that the minds of many Geese were violently set against a measure +which they presumed to be most deleterious to the country; but old +Pan, under the rigorous instigation of Robinson, had given in his +adhesion, and was prepared to vote for the measure,--and to talk for +it also, should there be absolute necessity. Buggins also was on the +same side,--for Buggins was by trade a radical. But it was felt by +all that the debate would be nothing unless Robinson should be there +to "chaw up" Crowdy, as had been intimated to our friend by that +worthy Goose the young Poppins. + +But at eight o'clock and at a quarter past eight Robinson was +not there. Crowdy, not wishing to lacerate his foe till that foe +should be there to feel the wounds, sat silent in his usual seat. +Pancabinet, who understood well the beauty of silence, would not +begin the fray. Buggins was ever ready to talk, but he was cunning +enough to know that a future opportunity might be more valuable than +the present one. Then up jumped Poppins. Now Poppins was no orator, +but he felt that as the friend of Robinson, he was bound to address +the meeting on the present occasion. There were circumstances which +should be explained. "Most worthy Grand,--" he began, starting +suddenly to his legs; whereupon the worthy Grand slightly drew back +his head, still holding his pipe between his lips, and winked at the +unhappy Poppins. "As the friend of the absent Robinson--" he went on; +but he was at once interrupted by loud cries of "order" from every +side of the Room. And, worse than that, the Grand frowned at him. +There was no rule more established than that which forbade the name +of any Goose to be mentioned. "I beg the Grand's pardon," continued +Poppins; "I mean the absent worthy Goose. As his friend I rise to +say a few words. I know he feels the greatest interest about this +measure, which has been brought forward in the House of C--" But +again he was interrupted. "Order, order, order," was shouted at him +by vociferous Geese on every side, and the Grand frowned at him +twice. When the Grand had frowned at a member three times, that +member was silenced for the night. In this matter the assembly at the +"Goose and Gridiron" had not copied their rule from any other Body. +But it is worthy of consideration whether some other Body might not +do well to copy theirs. "I beg the Grand's pardon again," said the +unhappy Poppins; "but I meant in another place." Hereupon a worthy +Goose got up and suggested that their numbers should be counted. Now +there was a rule that no debate could be continued unless a dozen +Geese were present; and a debate once closed, was closed for that +night. When such a hint was given to the Grand, it became the Grand's +duty to count his Geese, and in order to effect this in accordance +with the constitution of the assembly, it was necessary that the +servants should withdraw. Strangers also were sometimes present, +and at such moments they were politely asked to retire. When the +suggestion was made, the suggestor no doubt knew that the requisite +number was not there, but it usually happened on such occasions that +some hangers-on were at hand to replenish the room. A Goose or two +might be eating bread and cheese in the little parlour,--for food +could not be introduced into the debating-room; and a few of the +younger Geese might often be found amusing themselves with the +young lady at the bar. Word would be passed to them that the Grand +was about to count, and indeed they would hear the tap of his +tobacco-stopper on the table. Then there would be a rush among these +hungry and amorous Geese, and so the number would be made up. That +they called making a flock. + +When the suggestion was given on the present occasion the Grand put +down his tankard from his hand and proceeded to the performance of +his duty. Turning the mouthpiece of his long pipe-clay out from him, +he pointed it slowly to one after another, counting them as he so +pointed. First he counted up old Pancabinet, and a slight twinkle +might be seen in the eyes of the two old men as he did so. Then, +turning his pipe round the room, he pointed at them all, and it was +found that there were fifteen present. "There is a flock, and the +discreet and worthy Goose is in possession of the room," he said, +bowing to Poppins. And Poppins again began his speech. + +It was but a blundering affair, as was too often the case with the +speeches made there; and then when Poppins sat down, the great Crowdy +rose slowly to his legs. We will not attempt to give the speech of +this eloquent Goose at length, for the great Crowdy often made long +speeches. It may suffice to say that having a good cause he made +the best of it, and that he pitched into our poor Robinson most +unmercifully, always declaring as he did so that as his friend +the enterprising and worthy Goose was absent, his own mouth was +effectually closed. It may be noted here that whenever a Goose was +in commerce the epithet "enterprising" was always used when he was +mentioned; and if he held or ever had held a service of trust, as +Poppins did, he was called the "discreet" Goose. And then, just as +Crowdy finished his speech, the swinging door of the room was opened, +and Robinson himself started up to his accustomed place. + +It was easy to see that both the inner man had been disturbed and +the outer. His hair and clothes had been ruffled in the embrace +with Brisket, and his heart had been ruffled in its encounter with +Maryanne. He had come straight from Bishopsgate Street to the "Goose +and Gridiron;" and now when he walked up to his seat, all the Geese +remained silent waiting for him to declare himself. + +"Most worthy Grand," he began; and immediately the long pipe was +laid upon the table and the hands of the Grand were crossed upon his +bosom. "A circumstance has occurred to-night, which unfits me for +these debates." "No, no, no," was shouted on one side; and "hear, +hear, hear," on the other; during which the Grand again bowed and +then resumed his pipe. + +"If the chamber will allow me to wander away from paper for a moment, +and to open the sores of a bleeding heart--" + +"Question, question," was then called by a jealous voice. + +"The enterprising and worthy Goose is perfectly in order," said the +burly Buggins. "Many a good heart will bleed before long if this +debate is to be choked and smothered by the cackle of the incapable." + +"I submit that the question before the chamber is the repeal of the +paper duties," said the jealous voice, "and not the bleeding heart of +the enterprising and worthy Goose." + +"The question before the cabinet is," said My Grand, "that the +chamber considers that two millions a-year will be lost for ever by +the repeal of the paper duties; but if the enterprising and worthy +Goose have any personal remarks to make bearing on that subject, he +will be in order." + +"It is a matter of privilege," suggested Poppins. + +"A personal explanation is always allowed," said Robinson, +indignantly; "nor did I think that any member of this chamber would +have had the baseness to stop my voice when--" + +"Order--order--order!" + +"I may have been wrong to say baseness in this chamber, however base +the worthy Goose may be; and, therefore, with permission of our +worthy Grand, I will substitute 'hardihood.'" Whereupon the worthy +Grand again bowed. But still there were cries of question from the +side of the room opposite to that on which Robinson sat. + +Then old Pancabinet rose from his seat, and all voices were hushed. + +"If I may be allowed to make a suggestion," said he, "I would say +that the enterprising and worthy Goose should be heard on a matter +personal to himself. It may very probably be that the privileges of +this chamber are concerned; and I think I may say that any worthy +Goose speaking on matters affecting privilege in this chamber is +always heard with that attention which the interest of the subject +demands." After that there was no further interruption, and Robinson +was allowed to open his bleeding heart. + +"Most worthy Grand," he again began, and again the pipe was laid +down, for Robinson was much honoured. "I come here hot from a scene +of domestic woe, which has robbed me of all political discretion, +and made the paper duty to me an inscrutable mystery. The worthy +Geese here assembled see before them a man who has been terribly +injured; one in whose mangled breast Fate has fixed her sharpest +dagger, and poisoned the blade before she fixed it." "No--no--no." +"Hear--hear--hear." "Yes, my Grand; she poisoned the blade before she +fixed it. On Tuesday next I had hoped--" and here his voice became +inexpressibly soft and tender, "on Tuesday next I had hoped to +become one bone and one flesh with a fair girl whom I have loved for +months;--fair indeed to the outer eye, as flesh and form can make +her; but ah! how hideously foul within. And I had hoped on this day +se'nnight to have received the congratulations of this chamber. I +need not say that it would have been the proudest moment of my life. +But, my Grand, that has all passed away. Her conduct has been the +conduct of a Harpy. She is a Regan. She is false, heartless, and +cruel; and this night I have renounced her." + +Hereupon a small Goose, very venomous, but vehemently attached to the +privileges of his chamber, gave notice of a motion that that false +woman should be brought before the Most Worthy Grand, and heard +at the bar of the "Goose and Gridiron." But another worthy Goose +showed that the enterprising and worthy Goose had by his own showing +renounced the lady himself, and that, therefore, there could have +been no breach of the privilege of the chamber. The notice of motion +was then withdrawn. + +"O woman!" continued Robinson, "how terrible is thy witchcraft, +and how powerful are thy charms! Thou spakest, and Adam fell. Thou +sangest, and Samson's strength was gone. The head of the last of the +prophets was the reward of thy meretricious feet. 'Twas thy damnable +eloquence that murdered the noble Duncan. 'Twas thy lascivious beauty +that urged the slaughter of the noble Dane. As were Adam and Samson, +so am I. As were Macbeth and the foul king in the play, so is my +rival Brisket. Most worthy Grand, this chamber must hold me excused +if I decline to-night to enter upon the subject of the paper duties." +Then Robinson left the chamber, and the discussion was immediately +adjourned to that day se'nnight. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +GEORGE ROBINSON'S MARRIAGE. + + +Thus ended George Robinson's dream of love. Never again will he +attempt that phase of life. Beauty to him in future shall be a +thing on which the eye may rest with satisfaction, as it may on the +sculptor's chiselled marble, or on the varied landscape. It shall be +a thing to look at,--possibly to possess. But for the future George +Robinson's heart shall be his own. George Robinson is now wedded, and +he will admit of no second wife. On that same Tuesday which was to +have seen him made the legal master of Maryanne's charms, he vowed +to himself that Commerce should be his bride; and, as in the dead +of night he stood on the top of the hill of Ludgate, he himself, as +high-priest, performed the ceremony. "Yes," said he on that occasion, +"O goddess, here I devote myself to thy embraces, to thine and thine +only. To live for thee shall satisfy both my heart and my ambition. +If thou wilt be kind, no softer loveliness shall be desired by me. +George Robinson has never been untrue to his vows, nor shalt thou, +O my chosen one, find him so now. For thee will I labour, straining +every nerve to satisfy thy wishes. Woman shall henceforward be to me +a doll for the adornment of whose back it will be my business to sell +costly ornaments. In no other light will I regard the loveliness of +her form. O sweet Commerce, teach me thy lessons! Let me ever buy in +the cheapest market and sell in the dearest. Let me know thy hidden +ways, and if it be that I am destined for future greatness, and may +choose the path by which it shall be reached, it is not great wealth +at which I chiefly aim. Let it rather be said of me that I taught the +modern world of trade the science of advertisement." + +Thus did he address his new celestial bride, and as he spoke a +passing cloud rolled itself away from before the moon's face, and +the great luminary of the night shone down upon his upturned face. +"I accept the omen," said Robinson, with lightened heart; and from +that moment his great hopes never again altogether failed him, +though he was doomed to pass through scorching fires of commercial +disappointment. + +But it must not be supposed that he was able to throw off his passion +for Maryanne Brown without a great inward struggle. Up to that +moment, in which he found Brisket in Mr. Brown's room, and, as he +stood for a moment on the landing-place, heard that inquiry made as +to the use of his name, he had believed that Maryanne would at last +be true to him. Poppins, indeed, had hinted his suspicions, but in +the way of prophecy Poppins was a Cassandra. Poppins saw a good deal +with those twinkling eyes of his, but Robinson did not trust to the +wisdom of Poppins. Up to that hour he had believed in Maryanne, and +then in the short flash of an instant the truth had come upon him. +She had again promised herself to Brisket, if Brisket would only +take her. Let Brisket have her if he would. A minute's thought was +sufficient to bring him to this resolve. But hours of scorching +torment must be endured ere he could again enjoy the calm working of +a sound mind in a sound body. + +It has been told how in the ecstasy of his misery he poured out the +sorrows of his bleeding heart before his brethren at the debating +club. They, with that ready sympathy which they always evince for +the success or failure of any celebrated brother, at once adjourned +themselves; and Robinson walked out, followed at a distance by the +faithful Poppins. + +"George, old fellow!" said the latter, touching his friend on the +shoulder, at the corner of Bridge Street. + +"Leave me!" exclaimed Robinson. "Do not pry into sorrows which you +cannot understand. I would be alone with myself this night." + +"You'd be better if you'd come to the 'Mitre,' and smoke a pipe," +said Poppins. + +"Pipe me no pipes," said Robinson. + +"Oh, come. You'd better quit that, and take it easy. After all, isn't +it better so, than you should find her out when it was too late? +There's many would be glad to have your chance." + +"Man!" shouted Robinson, and as he did so he turned round upon his +friend and seized him by the collar of his coat. "I loved that woman. +Forty thousand Poppinses could not, with all their quantity of love, +make up my sum." + +"Very likely not," said Poppins. + +"Would'st thou drink up Esil? Would'st thou eat a crocodile?" + +"Heaven forbid," said Poppins. + +"I'll do it. And if thou prate of mountains--" + +"But I didn't." + +"No, Poppins, no. That's true. Though I should be Hamlet, yet art not +thou Laërtes. But Poppins, thou art Horatio." + +"I'm Thomas Poppins, old fellow; and I mean to stick to you till I +see you safe in bed." + +"Thou art Horatio, for I've found thee honest. There are more things +in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamed of in our philosophy." + +"Come, old fellow." + +"Poppins, give me that man that is not passion's slave, and I will +wear him in my heart's core; ay, in my heart of hearts;--as I do +thee." And then, falling on Poppins' neck, George Robinson embraced +him. + +"You'll be better after that," said Poppins. "Come, let's have a +little chat over a drop of something hot, and then we'll go to bed. +I'll stand Sammy." + +"Something hot!" said Robinson. "I tell you, Poppins, that everything +is hot to me. Here, here I'm hot." And then he struck his breast. +"And yet I'm very cold. 'Tis cold to be alone; cold to have lost +one's all. Poppins, I've loved a harpy." + +"I believe you're about right there," said Poppins. + +"A harpy! Her nails will grow to talons, and on her feet are hoofs. +Within she is horn all over. There's not a drop of blood about her +heart. Oh, Poppins!" + +"You're very well out of it, George. But yet I'm sorry for you. I am, +indeed." + +"And now, good-night. This way is mine; yours there." + +"What! to the bridge? No; I'm blessed if you do; at any rate not +alone." + +"Poppins, tell me this; was Hamlet mad, or did he feign so?" + +"Faith, very likely the latter. Many do that now. There are better +rations in Bedlam, than in any of the gaols;--let alone the +workhouses." + +"Ay; go mad for rations! There's no feigning there, Poppins. The +world is doing that. But, Poppins, Hamlet feigned; and so do I. Let +the wind blow as it may, I know a hawk from a handsaw. Therefore you +need not fear me." + +"I don't; but I won't let you go on to that bridge alone. You'll be +singing that song of a suicide, till you're as low as low. Come and +drink a drop of something, and wish Brisket joy with his wife." + +"I will," said Robinson. And so the two went to the "Mitre;" and +there, comforted by the truth and honesty of his friend, Robinson +resolved that he would be weak no longer, but, returning at once +to his work, would still struggle on to rescue the house of Brown, +Jones, and Robinson from that bourne of bankruptcy to which it was +being hurried by the incompetency of his partners. + +The following day was Sunday, and he rose at twelve with a racking +headache. He had promised to take a chop with his friend at two, and +at that hour he presented himself, with difficulty, at Mrs. Poppins's +room. She was busy laying the cloth as he entered, but his friend +was seated, half-dressed, unshorn, pale, and drooping, in an old +arm-chair near the window. + +"It's a shame for you, George Robinson," said the lady, as he +entered, "so it is. Look at that, for a father of a family,--coming +home at three o'clock in the morning, and not able to make his way +upstairs till I went down and fetched him!" + +"I told her that we were obliged to sit out the debate," said +Poppins, winking eagerly at his friend. + +"Debate, indeed! A parcel of geese as you call yourself! Only geese +go to bed betimes, and never get beastly drunk as you was, Poppins." + +"I took a bit of stewed cheese, which always disagrees with me." + +"Stewed cheese never disagrees with you when I'm with you. I'll tell +you what it is, Poppins; if you ain't at home and in bed by eleven +o'clock next Saturday, I'll go down to the 'Goose and Gridiron,' and +I'll have that old Grandy out of his chair. That's what I will. I +suppose you're so bad you can't eat a bit of nothing?" In answer to +which, Robinson said that he did not feel himself to be very hungry. + +"It's a blessing to Maryanne to have lost you; that's what it is." + +"Stop, woman," said Robinson. + +"Don't you woman me any womans. I know what stuff you're made off. +It's a blessing for her not to have to do with a man who comes home +roaring drunk, like a dead log, at three o'clock in the morning." + +"Now, Polly,--" began poor Poppins. + +"Oh, ah, Polly! Yes. Polly's very well. But it was a bad day for +Polly when she first sat eyes on you. There was Sergeant MacNash +never took a drop too much in his life. And you're worse than +Robinson ten times. He's got no children at home, and no wife. If he +kills hisself with tobacco and gin, nobody will be much the worse. +I know one who's got well out of it, anyway. And now, if either of +you are able to eat, you can come." Robinson did not much enjoy his +afternoon, but the scenes, as they passed, served to reconcile him +to that lonely life which must, henceforward, be his fate. What was +there to enjoy in the fate of Poppins, and what in the proposed +happiness of Brisket? Could not a man be sufficient for himself +alone? Was there aught of pleasantness in that grinding tongue of +his friend's wife? Should not one's own flesh,--the bone of one's +bone,--bind up one's bruises, pouring in balm with a gentle hand? +Poppins was wounded sorely about the head and stomach, and of what +nature was the balm which his wife administered? He, Robinson, had +longed for married bliss, but now he longed no longer. + +On the following Monday and Tuesday he went silently about his work, +speaking hardly a word to anybody. Mr. Brown greeted him with an +apologetic sigh, and Jones with a triumphant sneer; but he responded +to neither of them. He once met Maryanne in the passage, and bowed to +her with a low salute, but he did not speak to her. He did not speak +to her, but he saw the colour in her cheek, and watched her downcast +eye. He was still weak as water, and had she clung to him even then, +he would even then have forgiven her! But she passed on, and, as she +left the house, she slammed the door behind her. + +A little incident happened on that day, which is mentioned to show +that, even in his present frame of mind, Robinson was able to take +advantage of the smallest incident on behalf of his firm. A slight +crowd had been collected round the door in the afternoon, for there +had been a quarrel between Mr. Jones and one of the young men, in +which loud words had reached the street, and a baby, which a woman +held in her arms, had been somewhat pressed and hurt. As soon as the +tidings reached Robinson's ears he was instantly at his desk, and +before the trifling accident was two hours passed, the following bill +was in the printer's hands;-- + + + CAUTION TO MOTHERS!--MOTHERS, BEWARE! + + Three suckling infants were yesterday pressed to death in + their mothers' arms by the crowd which had congregated + before the house of Brown, Jones, and Robinson, at Nine + times Nine, Bishopsgate Street, in their attempts to be + among the first purchasers of that wonderful lot of cheap + but yet excellent flannels, which B., J., and R. have just + imported. Such flannels, at such a price, were never before + offered to the British public. The sale, at the figures + quoted below, will continue for three days more. + + _Magenta House._ + + +And then followed the list. + +It had chanced that Mr. Brown had picked up a lot of remnants +from a wholesale house in Houndsditch, and the genius of Robinson +immediately combined that fact with the little accident above +mentioned. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +SHOWING HOW MR. BRISKET DIDN'T SEE HIS WAY. + + +Then two months passed by, and the summer was over. Early in +September Mr. Brown had been taken ill, and he went to Margate for +a fortnight with his unmarried daughter. This had been the means of +keeping Brisket quiet for a while with reference to that sum of money +which he was to receive, and had given a reason why the marriage +with him should not be performed at once. On Mr. Brown's return, the +matter was discussed, and Brisket became impatient. But the middle +of October had come before any steps were taken to which it will be +necessary to allude in the annals of the firm. + +At that time Brisket, on two successive days, was closeted with his +proposed father-in-law, and it was evident to Robinson that after +each of these interviews Mr. Brown was left in an unhappy frame +of mind. At this time the affairs of the shop were not absolutely +ruinous,--or would not have been so had there been a proper watch +kept on the cash taken over the counter. The heaviest amounts due +were to the stationer, printer, and advertising agents. This was +wrong, for such people of course press for their money; and whatever +hitch or stoppage there may be in trade, there should, at any rate, +be no hitch or stoppage in the capability for advertising. For the +goods disposed of by the house payments had been made, if not with +absolute punctuality on every side, at any rate so fairly that some +supply was always forthcoming. The account at the bank had always +been low; and, though a few small bills had been discounted, nothing +like a mercantile system of credit had been established. All this +was wrong, and had already betrayed the fact that Brown, Jones, and +Robinson were little people, trading in a little way. It is useless +to conceal the fact now, and these memoirs would fail to render to +commerce that service which is expected from them, were the truth on +this matter kept back from the public. Brown, Jones, and Robinson had +not soared upwards into the empyrean vault of commercial greatness +on eagle's wings. There are bodies so ponderous in their nature, +that for them no eagle's wings can be found. The firm had commenced +their pecuniary transactions on a footing altogether weak and +unsubstantial. They had shown their own timidity, and had confessed, +by the nature of their fiscal transactions, that they knew themselves +to be small. To their advertising agents they should never have been +behindhand in their payments for one day; but they should have been +bold in demanding credit from their bank, and should have given their +orders to the wholesale houses without any of that hesitation or +reserve which so clearly indicates feebleness of purpose. + +But in spite of this acknowledged weakness, a brisk trade over the +counter had been produced; and though the firm had never owned a +large stock, an unremitting sale was maintained of small goods, +such as ribbons, stockings, handkerchiefs, and cotton gloves. The +Katakarion shirts also had been successful, and now there was a hope +that, during the coming winter, something might be done in African +monkey muffs. At that time, therefore, the bill of the house at three +months, though not to be regarded as a bank-note, was not absolutely +waste paper. How far Brisket's eyes were open on this matter cannot +now be said; but he still expressed himself willing to take one +hundred pounds in cash, and the remainder of Maryanne's fortune in +the bill of the firm at three months. + +And then Mr. Brisket made a third visit to Bishopsgate Street. On all +these occasions he passed by the door of the little room in which +Robinson sat, and well did his late rival know his ponderous step. +His late rival;--for Brisket was now welcome to come and go. "Mr. +Brown!" said he, on one occasion, "I have come here to have a +settlement about this thing at once." + +"I've been ill, Brisket; very ill, you know," said Mr. Brown, +pleadingly, "and I'm not strong now." + +"But that can't make no difference about the money. Maryanne is +willing, and me also. When Christmas is coming on, it's a busy time +in our trade, and I can't be minding that sort of thing then. If +you've got the cash ready, and that bit of paper, we'll have it off +next week." + +"I've never spoken to him about the paper;" and Mr. Brown, as he +uttered these words, pointed down towards the room in which Robinson +was sitting. + +"Then you'd better," said Brisket. "For I shan't come here again +after to-day. I'll see it out now one way or the other, and so I've +told Maryanne." + +Mr. Brown's sigh, when he heard these words, was prolonged and deep. +"You heard what he said that night," continued Brisket. "You ask him. +He's game for anything of that sort." + +All these words Robinson had overheard, for the doors of the two +rooms were close together, and neither of them had been absolutely +closed. Now was the moment in which it behoved him to act. No false +delicacy as to the nature of the conversation between his partner and +that partner's proposed son-in-law withheld him; but rising from his +seat, he walked straight into the upper room. + +"Here he is, by jingo," said Brisket. "Talk of the--" + +"Speak of an angel and behold his wings," said Robinson, with a faint +smile. "I come on a visit which might befit an angel. Mr. Brown, I +consent that your daughter's dowry shall be paid from the funds of +the firm." + +But Mr. Brown, instead of expressing his thankful gratitude, as was +expected, winked at his partner. The dull Brisket did not perceive +it; but Robinson at once knew that this act of munificence on his +part was not at the moment pleasing to the lady's father. + +"You're a trump," said Brisket; "and when we're settled at home like, +Maryanne and I that is, I hope you'll let bygones be bygones, and +come and take pot luck with us sometimes. If there's a tender bit of +steak about the place it shall be sent to the kitchen fire when you +show your face." + +"Brisket," said Robinson, "there's my hand. I've loved her. I don't +deny it. But you're welcome to her. No woman shall ever sit at the +hearth of George Robinson;--but at her hearth George Robinson will +never sit." + +"You shall be as welcome as if you did," said Brisket; "and a man +can't say no fairer." + +But in the meantime Mr. Brown still continued to wink, and Robinson +understood that his consent to that bill transaction was not in +truth desired. "Perhaps, Mr. Brisket," said he, "as this is a matter +of business, I and my partner had better discuss it for a moment +together. We can go down into my room, Mr. Brown." + +"With all my heart," said Brisket. "But remember this, both of you: +if I don't see my way before I leave the house, I don't come here any +more. I know my way pretty well from Aldersgate Street, and I'm sick +of the road. I've been true to my word all along, and I'll be true +to the end. But if I don't see my way before I leave this house, +remember I'm off." + +"You shouldn't have said that," whispered Brown to his partner as +soon as the two were together. + +"Why not?" + +"The money won't be there at the end of three months, not if we pay +them other things. And where's the hundred pounds of ready to come +from?" + +"That's your look-out." + +"I haven't got it, George. Jones has it, I know; but I can't get it +out of him." + +"Jones got a hundred pounds! And where should Jones have gotten it?" + +"I know we have been wrong, George; I know we have. But you can't +wonder at me, George; can you? I did bring four thousand pounds into +it; didn't I?" + +"And now you haven't got a hundred pounds!" + +"If I have it's as much as I can say. But Jones has it, and ever so +much more. If Brisket will wait, we can frighten it out of Jones." + +"If I know anything of human nature," said Robinson, "Brisket will +not wait." + +"He would, if you hadn't spoke to him that way. He'd say he wouldn't, +and go away, and Maryanne would blow up; but I should have worked the +money out of Jones at last, and then Brisket would have waited." + +When Mr. Brown had made this disclosure, whispering all the time as +he leaned his head and shoulder on Robinson's upright desk, they both +remained silent for a while. "We have been wrong," he had said; "I +know we have." And Robinson, as he heard the words, perceived that +from the beginning to the end he had been a victim. No wonder that +the business should not have answered, when such confessions as these +were wrung from the senior partner! But the fact alleged by Mr. Brown +in his own excuse was allowed its due weight by Robinson, even at +that moment. Mr. Brown had possessed money,--money which might have +made his old age comfortable and respectable in obscurity. It was not +surprising that he should be anxious to keep in his own hand some +small remnant of his own property. But as for Jones! What excuse +could be made for Jones! Jones had been a thief; and worse than +ordinary thieves, for his thefts were committed on his own friends. + +"And he has got the money," said Robinson. + +"Oh, yes!" said Mr. Brown, "there's no doubt in life about that." + +"Then, by the heaven above us, he shall refund it to the firm from +which he has stolen it," shouted Robinson, striking the desk with his +fist as he did so. + +"Whish, George, whish; Brisket will hear you." + +"Who cares? I have been robbed on every side till I care for nothing! +What is Brisket to me, or what is your daughter? What is anything?" + +"But, George--" + +"Is there no honesty left in the world, Mr. Brown? That there is no +love I had already learned. Ah me, what an age is this in which we +live! Deceit, deceit, deceit;--it is all deceit!" + +"The heart of a man is very deceitful," said Mr. Brown. "And a +woman's especially." + +"Delilah would have been a true wife now-a-days. But never mind. That +man is still there, and he must be answered. I have no hundred pounds +to give him." + +"No, George; no; we're sure of that." + +"When this business is broken up, as broken up it soon will be--" + +"Oh, George, don't say so." + +"Ay, but it will. Then I shall walk out from Magenta House with empty +pockets and with clean hands." + +"But think of me, George. I had four thousand pounds when we began. +Hadn't I, now?" + +"I do think of you, and I forgive you. Now go up to Brisket, for he +will want his answer. I can assist you no further. My name is still +left to me, and of that you may avail yourself. But as for money, +George Robinson has none." + +About half an hour after that, Mr. Brisket again descended the stairs +with his usual ponderous and slow step, and went forth into the +street, shaking the dust from his feet as he did so. He was sore +offended, and vowed in his heart that he would never enter that +house again. He had pressed Mr. Brown home about the money; and that +gentleman had suggested to him, first, that it should be given to him +on the day after the marriage, and then that it should be included in +the bill. "You offered to take it all in one bill before, you know," +said Mr. Brown. Hereupon Brisket began to think that he did not see +his way at all, and finally left the house in great anger. + +He went direct from thence to Mrs. Poppins' lodgings, where he knew +that he would find Miss Brown. Poppins himself was, of course, at his +work, and the two ladies were together. + +"I've come to wish you good-by," he said, as he walked into the room. + +"Laws, Mr. Brisket!" exclaimed Mrs. Poppins. + +"It's all up about this marriage, and so I thought it right to +come and tell you. I began straightforward, and I mean to end +straightforward." + +"You mean to say you're not going to have her," said Mrs. Poppins. + +"Polly, don't make a fool of yourself," said Maryanne. "Do you think +I want the man. Let him go." And then he did go, and Miss Brown was +left without a suitor. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +MR. BROWN IS TAKEN ILL. + + +Brisket kept his word, and never entered Magenta House again, nor, +as far as George Robinson is aware, has he seen any of the Brown +family from that day on which he gave up his intended marriage to +this present. For awhile Maryanne Brown protested that she was well +satisfied that this should be so. She declared to Mrs. Poppins +that the man was mercenary, senseless, uninteresting, heavy, and +brutal;--and though in the bosom of her own family she did not speak +out with equal freedom, yet from time to time she dropped words +to show that she was not breaking her heart for William Brisket. +But this mood did not last long. Before winter had come round the +bitterness of gall had risen within her heart, and when Christmas was +there her frame of mind was comfortable neither to herself nor to her +unfortunate father. + +During this time the house still went on. Set a business going, and +it is astonishing how long it will continue to move by the force of +mere daily routine. People flocked in for shirts and stockings, and +young women came there to seek their gloves and ribbons, although but +little was done to attract them, either in the way of advertisement +or of excellence of supply. Throughout this wretched month or two +Robinson knew that failure was inevitable, and with this knowledge it +was almost impossible that he should actively engage himself in his +own peculiar branch of business. There was no confidence between the +partners. Jones was conscious of what was coming and was more eager +than ever to feather his own nest. But in these days Mr. Brown +displayed a terrible activity. He was constantly in the shop, and +though it was evident to all eyes that care and sorrow were heaping +upon his shoulders a burden which he could hardly bear, he watched +his son-in-law with the eyes of an Argus. It was terrible to see him, +and terrible, alas, to hear him;--for at this time he had no reserve +before the men and women engaged behind the counters. At first there +had been a pretence of great love and confidence, but this was now +all over. It was known to all the staff that Mr. Brown watched his +son-in-law, and known also that the youngest partner had been treated +with injustice by them both. + +They in the shop, and even Jones himself, knew little of what in +these days was going on upstairs. But Robinson knew, for his room +was close to that in which Mr. Brown and his daughter lived; and, +moreover, in spite of the ill-feeling which could not but exist +between him and Miss Brown, he passed many hours in that room with +her father. The bitterness of gall had now risen within her breast, +and she had begun to realize that truth which must be so terrible for +a woman, that she had fallen to the ground between two stools. It is +a truth terrible to a woman. There is no position in a man's life of +the same aspect. A man may fail in business, and feel that no further +chance of any real success can ever come in his way; or he may fail +in love, and in the soreness of his heart may know that the pleasant +rippling waters of that fountain are for him dried for ever. But with +a woman the two things are joined together. Her battle must be fought +all in one. Her success in life and her romance must go together, +hand in hand. She is called upon to marry for love, and if she marry +not for love, she disobeys the ordinance of nature and must pay the +penalty. But at the same time all her material fortune depends upon +the nature of that love. An industrious man may marry a silly fretful +woman, and may be triumphant in his counting-house though he be +bankrupt in his drawing-room. But a woman has but the one chance. +She must choose her life's companion because she loves him; but she +knows how great is the ruin of loving one who cannot win for her that +worldly success which all in the world desire to win. + +With Maryanne Brown these considerations had become frightfully +momentous. She had in her way felt the desire for some romance in +life, but she had felt more strongly still how needful it was that +she should attain by her feminine charms a position which would put +her above want. "As long as I have a morsel, you shall have half of +it," her father had said to her more than once. And she had answered +him with terrible harshness, "But what am I to do when you have no +longer a morsel to share with me? When you are ruined, or dead, where +must I then look for support and shelter?" The words were harsh, and +she was a very Regan to utter them. But, nevertheless, they were +natural. It was manifest enough that her father would not provide +for her, and for her there was nothing but Eve's lot of finding an +Adam who would dig for her support. She was hard, coarse,--almost +heartless; but it may perhaps be urged in her favour, that she was +not wilfully dishonest. She had been promised to one man, and though +she did not love him she would have married him, intending to do her +duty. But to this he would not consent, except under certain money +circumstances which she could not command. Then she learned to love +another man, and him she would have married; but prudence told her +that she should not do so until he had a home in which to place her. +And thus she fell to the ground between two stools, and, falling, +perceived that there was nothing before her on which her eye could +rest with satisfaction. + +There are women, very many women, who could bear this, if with +sadness, still without bitterness. It is a lot which many women have +to bear; but Maryanne Brown was one within whose bosom all feelings +were turned to gall by the prospect of such a destiny. What had she +done to deserve such degradation and misfortune? She would have been +an honest wife to either husband! That it could be her own fault in +any degree she did not for a moment admit. It was the fault of those +around her, and she was not the woman to allow such a fault to pass +unavenged. + +"Father," she would say, "you will be in the workhouse before this +new year is ended." + +"I hope not, my child." + +"Hope! What's the good of hoping? You will. And where am I to go +then? Mother left a handsome fortune behind her, and this is what +you've brought us to." + +"I've done everything for the best, Maryanne." + +"Why didn't you give that man the money when you had it? You'd have +had a home then when you'd ruined yourself. Now you'll have no home; +neither shall I." + +All this was very hard to be borne. "She nags at me that dreadful, +George," he once said, as he sat in his old arm-chair, with his head +hanging wearily on his chest, "that I don't know where I am or what +I'm doing. As for the workhouse, I almost wish I was there." + +She would go also to Poppins' lodgings, and there quarrel with her +old friend Polly. It may be that at this time she did not receive +all the respect that had been paid to her some months back, and this +reverse was, to her proud spirit, unendurable. "Polly," she said, "if +you wish to turn your back upon me, you can do so. But I won't put up +with your airs." + +"There's nobody turning their back upon you, only yourself," +Polly replied; "but it's frightful to hear the way you're always +a-grumbling;--as if other people hadn't had their ups and downs +besides you." + +Robinson also was taught by the manner of his friend Poppins that he +could not now expect to receive that high deference which was paid +to him about the time that Johnson of Manchester had been in the +ascendant. Those had been the halcyon days of the firm, and Robinson +had then been happy. Men at that time would point him out as he +passed, as one worthy of notice; his companions felt proud when +he would join them; and they would hint to him, with a mysterious +reverence that was very gratifying, their assurance that he was so +deeply occupied as to make it impossible that he should give his time +to the ordinary slow courtesies of life. All this was over now, and +he felt that he was pulled down with rough hands from the high place +which he had occupied. + +"It's all very well," Poppins would say to him, "but the fact is, +you're a-doing of nothing." + +"If fourteen hours a day--" began Robinson. But Poppins instantly +stopped him. + +"Fourteen hours' work a day is nothing, if you don't do anything. A +man may sweat hard digging holes and filling them up again. But what +I say is, he does not do any good. You've been making out all these +long stories about things that never existed, but what's the world +the better for it;--that's what I want to know. When a man makes +a pair of shoes--." And so he went on. Coming from such a man as +Poppins, this was hard to be borne. But nevertheless Robinson did +bear it. Men at the "Goose and Gridiron" also would shoulder him +now-a-days, rather than make way for him. Geese whose names had never +been heard beyond the walls of that room would presume to occupy his +place. And on one occasion, when he rose to address the chamber, the +Grand omitted the courtesy that had ever been paid to him, and forgot +to lay down his pipe. This also he bore without flinching. + +It was about the middle of February when a catastrophe happened which +was the immediate forerunner of the fall of the house. Robinson had +been at his desk early in the morning,--for, though his efforts were +now useless, he was always there; and had been struck with dismay by +the loudness of Maryanne's tone as she rebuked her father. Then Mrs. +Jones had joined them, and the battle had raged still more furiously. +The voice of the old man, too, was heard from time to time. When +roused by suffering to anger he would forget to speak in his usual +falsetto treble, and break out in a few natural words of rough +impassioned wrath. At about ten, Mr. Brown came down into Robinson's +room, and, seating himself on a low chair, remained there for awhile +without moving, and almost without speaking. "Is she gone, George?" +he asked at last. "Which of them?" said Robinson. + +"Sarah Jane. I'm not so used to her, and it's very bad." Then +Robinson looked out and said that Mrs. Jones was gone. Whereupon Mr. +Brown returned to his own room. + +Again and again throughout the day Robinson heard the voices; but +he did not go up to the room. He never did go there now, unless +specially called upon to do so by business. At about noon, however, +there came a sudden silence,--a silence so sudden that he noticed it. +And then he heard a quick step across the floor. It was nothing to +him, and he did not move from his seat; but still he kept his ears +open, and sat thoughtless of other matters, as though he expected +that something was about to happen. The room above was perfectly +still, and for a minute or two nothing was done. But then there came +the fall of a quicker step across the room, and the door was opened, +and Maryanne, descending the four stairs which led to his own closet, +was with him in an instant. "George," she said, forgetting all +propriety of demeanour, "father's in a fit!" + +It is not necessary that the scene which followed should be described +with minuteness in these pages. Robinson, of course, went up to Mr. +Brown's room, and a doctor was soon there in attendance upon the sick +man. He had been struck by paralysis, and thus for a time had been +put beyond the reach of his daughters' anger. Sarah Jane was very +soon there, but the wretched state in which the old man was lying +quieted even her tongue. She did not dare to carry on the combat as +she looked on the contorted features and motionless limbs of the poor +wretch as he lay on his bed. On her mind came the conviction that +this was partly her work, and that if she now spoke above her breath, +those around her would accuse her of her cruelty. So she slunk about +into corners, whispering now and again with her husband, and quickly +took herself off, leaving the task of nursing the old man to the +higher courage of her sister. + +And Maryanne's courage sufficed for the work. Now that she had a task +before her she did it;--as she would have done her household tasks +had she become the wife of Brisket or of Robinson. To the former +she would have been a good wife, for he would have required no +softness. She would have been true to him, tending him and his +children;--scolding them from morning to night, and laying not +unfrequently a rough hand upon them. But for this Brisket would not +have cared. He would have been satisfied, and all would have been +well. It is a thousand pities that, in that matter, Brisket could not +have seen his way. + +And now that her woman's services were really needed, she gave them +to her father readily. It cannot be said that she was a cheerful +nurse. Had he been in a state in which cheerfulness would have +relieved him, her words would have again been sharp and pointed. She +was silent and sullen, thinking always of the bad days that were +coming to her. But, nevertheless, she was attentive to him,--and +during the time of his terrible necessity even good to him. It is so +natural to women to be so, that I think even Regan would have nursed +Lear had Lear's body become impotent instead of his mind. There she +sat close to his bed, and there from time to time Robinson would +visit her. In those days they always called each other George and +Maryanne, and were courteous to each other, speaking solely of the +poor old sick man, who was so near to them both. Of their former +joint hopes, no word was spoken then; nor, at any rate as regards the +lady, was there even a thought of love. As to Jones, he very rarely +came there. He remained in the shop below; where the presence of some +member of the firm was very necessary, for, in these days, the number +of hands employed had become low. + +"I suppose it's all up down there," she said one day, and as she +spoke she pointed towards the shop. At this time her father had +regained his consciousness, and had recovered partially the use of +his limbs. But even yet he could not speak so as to be understood, +and was absolutely helpless. The door of his bedroom was open, and +Robinson was sitting in the front room, to which it opened. + +"I'm afraid so," said he. "There are creditors who are pressing us; +and now that they have been frightened about Mr. Brown, we shall be +sold up." + +"You mean the advertising people?" + +"Yes; the stationer and printer, and one or two of the agents. The +fact is, that the money, which should have satisfied them, has been +frittered away uselessly." + +"It's gone at any rate," said she. "He hasn't got it," and she +pointed to her father. + +"Nor have I," said Robinson. "I came into it empty-handed, and I +shall go out as empty. No one shall say that I cared more for myself +than for the firm. I've done my best, and we have failed. That's +all." + +"I am not going to blame you, George. My look-out is bad enough, but +I will not say that you did it. It is worse for a woman than for a +man. And what am I to do with him?" And again she pointed towards +the inner room. In answer to this Robinson said something as to +the wind being tempered for the shorn lamb. "As far as I can see," +she continued, "the sheep is best off that knows how to keep its +own wool. It's always such cold comfort as that one gets, when the +world means to thrust one to the wall. It's only the sheep that lets +themselves be shorn. The lions and the tigers know how to keep their +own coats on their own backs. I believe the wind blows colder on poor +naked wretches than it does on those as have their carriages to ride +in. Providence is very good to them that know how to provide for +themselves." + +"You are young," said he, "and beautiful--" + +"Psha!" + +"You will always find a home if you require one." + +"Yes; and sell myself! I'll tell you what it is, George Robinson; I +wish to enter no man's home unless I can earn my meat there by my +work. No man shall tell me that I am eating his bread for nothing. As +for love, I don't believe in it. It's all very well for them as have +nothing to do and nothing to think of,--for young ladies who get up +at ten in the morning, and ride about with young gentlemen, and spend +half their time before their looking-glasses. It's like those poetry +books you're so fond of. But it's not meant for them as must earn +their bread by their own sweat. You talk about love, but it's only +madness for the like of you." + +"I shall talk about it no more." + +"You can't afford it, George; nor yet can't I. What a man wants in a +wife is some one to see to his cooking and his clothes; and what a +woman wants is a man who can put a house over her head. Of course, if +she have something of her own, she'll have so much the better house. +As for me, I've got nothing now." + +"That would have made no difference with me." Robinson knew that he +was wrong to say this, but he could not help it. He knew that he +would be a madman if he again gave way to any feeling of tenderness +for this girl, who could be so hard in her manner, so harsh in her +speech, and whose temperament was so utterly unsuited to his own. But +as she was hard and harsh, so was he in all respects the reverse. As +she had told him over and over again, he was tender-hearted even to +softness. + +"No; it wouldn't," she replied. "And, therefore, with all your +cleverness, you are little better than a fool. You have been working +hard and living poor these two years back, and what better are you? +When that old man was weak enough to give you the last of his money, +you didn't keep a penny." + +"Not a penny," said Robinson, with some feeling of pride at his +heart. + +"And what the better are you for that? Look at them Joneses; they +have got money. When the crash comes, they won't have to walk out +into the street. They'll start somewhere in a little way, and will do +very well." + +"And would you have had me become a thief?" + +"A thief! You needn't have been a thief. You needn't have taken it +out of the drawers as some of them did. I couldn't do that myself. +I've been sore tempted, but I could never bring myself to that." Then +she got up, and went to her father, and Robinson returned again to +the figures that were before him. + +"What am I to do with him?" she again said, when she returned. "When +he is able to move, and the house is taken away from us, what am I to +do with him? He's been bad to me, but I won't leave him." + +"Neither will I leave him, Maryanne." + +"That's nonsense. You've got nothing, no more than he has; and he's +not your flesh and blood. Where would you have been now, if we'd been +married on that day." + +"I should have been nearer to him in blood, but not truer to him as a +partner." + +"It's lucky for you that your sort of partnership needn't last for +ever. You've got your hands and your brain, and at any rate you can +work. But who can say what must become of us? Looking at it all +through, George, I have been treated hard;--haven't I, now?" + +He could only say that of such hard treatment none of it rested on +his conscience. At such a moment as this he could not explain to +her that had she herself been more willing to trust in others, more +prone to believe in Providence, less hard and worldly, things would +have been better with her. Even now, could she have relaxed into +tenderness for half-an-hour, there was one at her elbow who would +have taken her at once, with all that burden of a worn-out pauper +parent, and have poured into her lap all the earnings of his life. +But Maryanne Brown could not relax into tenderness, nor would she +ever deign to pretend that she could do so. + +The first day on which Mr. Brown was able to come out into the +sitting-room was the very day on which Brown, Jones, and Robinson +were declared bankrupts. Craddock and Giles, the stationers of St. +Mary Axe, held bills of theirs, as to which they would not,--or +probably could not,--wait; and the City and West End Commercial and +Agricultural Joint-Stock Bank refused to make any further advances. +It was a sad day; but one, at least, of the partners felt relieved +when the blow had absolutely fallen, and the management of the +affairs of the shop was taken out of the hands of the firm. + +"And will we be took to prison?" asked Mr. Brown. They were almost +the first articulate words which he had been heard to utter since the +fit had fallen on him; and Robinson was quick to assure him that no +such misfortune would befall him. + +"They are not at all bitter against us," said Robinson. "They know we +have done our best." + +"And what will they do with us?" again asked Mr. Brown. + +"We shall have a sale, and clear out everything, and pay a +dividend;--and then the world will be open to us for further +efforts." + +"The world will never be open to me again," said Mr. Brown. "And if +I had only have kept the money when I had it--" + +"Mr. Brown," said Robinson, taking him by the hand, "you are ill +now, and seen through the sickly hue of weakness and infirmity, +affairs look bad and distressing; but ere long you will regain your +strength." + +"No, George, I shall never do that." + +On this day the business of the shop still went on, but the proceeds +of such sales as were made were carried to the credit of the +assignees. Mr. Jones was there throughout the day, doing nothing, and +hardly speaking to any one. He would walk slowly from the front of +the shop to the back, and then returning would stand in the doorway, +rubbing his hands one over the other. When any female of specially +smart appearance entered the shop, he would hand to her a chair, +and whisper a few words of oily courtesy; but to those behind the +counter he did not speak a word. In the afternoon Mrs. Jones made her +appearance, and when she had been there a few minutes, was about to +raise the counter door and go behind; but her husband took her almost +roughly by the arm, and muttering something to her, caused her to +leave the shop. "Ah, I knew what such dishonest doings must come to," +she said, as she went her way. "And, what's more, I know who's to +blame." And yet it was she and her husband who had brought this ruin +on the firm. + +"George," said Mr. Brown, that evening, "I have intended for the +best,--I have indeed." + +"Nobody blames you, sir." + +"You blame me about Maryanne." + +"No, by heaven; not now." + +"And she blames me about the money; but I've meant it for the +best;--I have indeed." + +All this occurred on a Saturday, and on that same evening Robinson +attended at his debating club, for the express purpose of explaining +to the members the state of his own firm. "It shall never be thrown +in my teeth," said he, "that I became a bankrupt and was ashamed to +own it." So he got up and made a speech, in which he stated that +Brown, Jones, and Robinson had failed, but that he could not lay +it to his own charge that he had been guilty of any omission or +commission of which he had reason to be ashamed as a British +merchant. This is mentioned here, in order that a fitting record may +be made of the very high compliment which was paid to him on the +occasion by old Pancabinet. + +"Most worthy Grand," said old Pan, and as he spoke he looked first at +the chairman and then down the long table of the room, "I am sure I +may truly say that we have all of us heard the statement made by the +enterprising and worthy Goose with sentiments of regret and pain; but +I am equally sure that we have none of us heard it with any idea that +either dishonour or disgrace can attach itself in the matter to the +name of--" (Order, order, order.) "Worthy Geese are a little too +quick," continued the veteran debater with a smile--"to the name +of--one whom we all so highly value." (Hear, hear, hear.) And then +old Pancabinet moved that the enterprising and worthy Goose was +entitled to the full confidence of the chamber. Crowdy magnanimously +seconded the motion, and the resolution, when carried, was +communicated to Robinson by the worthy Grand. Having thanked them in +a few words, which were almost inaudible from his emotion, he left +the chamber, and immediately afterwards the meeting was adjourned. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +WASTEFUL AND IMPETUOUS SALE. + + +There is no position in life in which a man receives so much +distinguished attention as when he is a bankrupt,--a bankrupt, +that is, of celebrity. It seems as though he had then realized the +legitimate ends of trade, and was brought forth in order that those +men might do him honour with whom he had been good enough to have +dealings on a large scale. Robinson was at first cowed when he +was called upon to see men who were now becoming aware that they +would not receive more than 2_s._ 9_d._ in the pound out of all the +hundreds that were owed to them. But this feeling very soon wore off, +and he found himself laughing and talking with Giles the stationer, +and Burrows the printer, and Sloman the official assignee, as though +a bankruptcy were an excellent joke; and as though he, as one of the +bankrupts, had by far the best of it. These men were about to lose, +or rather had lost, large sums of money; but, nevertheless, they took +it all as a matter of course, and were perfectly good-humoured. No +word of reproach fell from their lips, and when they asked George +Robinson to give them the advantage of his recognized talents in +drawing up the bills for the sale, they put it to him quite as a +favour; and Sloman, the assignee, went so far as to suggest that he +should be remunerated for his work. + +"If I can only be of any service to you," said Robinson, modestly. + +"Of the greatest service," said Mr. Giles. "A tremendous sacrifice, +you know,--enormous liabilities,--unreserved sale,--regardless of +cost; and all that sort of thing." + +"Lord bless you!" said Mr. Burrows. "Do you think he doesn't +understand how to do all that better than you can tell him? You'll +draw out the headings of the posters; won't you, Mr. Robinson?" + +"And put the numbers and figures into the catalogue," suggested Mr. +Sloman. "The best way is to put 'em down at about cost price. We find +we can generally do 'em at that, if we can only get the people to +come sharp enough." And then, as the evening had fallen upon them, +at their labours, they adjourned to the "Four Swans" opposite, and +Robinson was treated to his supper at the expense of his victims. + +On the next day the house was closed. This was done in order that the +goods might be catalogued and prepared for the final sale. The shop +would then be again opened for a week, and, after that, there would +be an end of Brown, Jones, and Robinson. In spite of the good-humour +which was shown by those from whom ill-humour on such an occasion +might have been expected, there was a melancholy about this which was +inexpressible. It has been said that there is nothing so exciting in +trade as a grand final sacrificial sale. But it is like the last act +of a tragedy. It is very good while it lasts, but what is to come +after it? Robinson, as he descended into the darkened shop, and +walked about amidst the lumber that was being dragged forth from +the shelves and drawers, felt that he was like Marius on the ruins +of Carthage. Here had been the scene of his glory! And then he +remembered with what ecstasy he had walked down the shop, when +the crowd without were anxiously inquiring the fate of Johnson of +Manchester. That had been a great triumph! But to what had such +triumphs led him? + +The men and women had gone away to their breakfast, and he was +standing there alone, leaning against one of the counters; he heard a +slight noise behind him, and, turning round, saw Mr. Brown, who had +crept down from his own room without assistance. It was the first +time since his illness that he had left the floor on which he lived, +and it had been intended that he should never go into the shop again. +"Oh, Mr. Brown, is this prudent?" said he, going up to him that he +might give him the assistance of his arm. + +"I wished to see it all once more, George." + +"There it is, then. There isn't much to see." + +"But a deal to feel; isn't there, George?--a deal to feel! It did +look very pretty that day we opened it,--very pretty. The colours +seem to have got dirty now." + +"Bright colours will become dull and dirty, Mr. Brown. It's the way +of the world. The brighter they are in their brightness, the more +dull will they look when the tinsel and gloss are gone." + +"But we should have painted it again this spring, if we'd stopped +here." + +"There are things, Mr. Brown, which one cannot paint again." + +"Iron and wood you can, or anything of the like of that." + +"Yes, Mr. Brown; you may repaint iron and wood; but who can restore +the faded colours to broken hopes and a bankrupt ambition? You see +these arches here which with so light a span bear the burden of the +house above them. So was the span of my heart on that opening day. No +weight of labour then seemed to be too much for me. The arches remain +and will remain; but as for the human heart--" + +"Don't, George,--don't. It will kill me if I see you down in the +mouth." + +"These will be repainted," continued Robinson, "and other breasts +will glow beneath them with hopes as high as those we felt when you +and the others stood here to welcome the public. But what artist can +ever repaint our aspirations? The soiled columns of these windows +will be regilded, and all here will be bright and young again; but +for man, when he loses his glory, there is no regilding. Come, Mr. +Brown, we will go upstairs. They will be here soon, and this is no +place now for you." Then he took him by the hand and led him tenderly +to his apartment. + +There is something inexpressibly melancholy in the idea of bankruptcy +in trade;--unless, indeed, when it may have been produced by absolute +fraud, and in such a form as to allow of the bankrupts going forth +with their pockets full. But in an ordinary way, I know nothing more +sad than the fate of men who have embarked all in a trade venture and +have failed. It may be, and probably is, the fact, that in almost all +such cases the failure is the fault of the bankrupts; but the fault +is so generally hidden from their own eyes, that they cannot see the +justice of their punishment; and is often so occult in its causes +that the justice cannot be discerned by any without deep scrutiny. +They who have struggled and lost all feel only that they have worked +hard, and worked in vain; that they have thrown away their money and +their energy; and that there is an end, now and for ever, to those +sweet hopes of independence with which they embarked their small +boats upon the wide ocean of commerce. The fate of such men is +very sad. Of course we hear of bankrupts who come forth again with +renewed glories, and who shine all the brighter in consequence of +their temporary obscurity. These are the men who can manage to have +themselves repainted and regilded; but their number is not great. One +hears of such because they are in their way memorable; and one does +not hear of the poor wretches who sink down out of the world--back +behind counters, and to menial work in warehouses. Of ordinary +bankrupts one hears nothing. They are generally men who, having saved +a little with long patience, embark it all and lose it with rapid +impotence. They come forward once in their lives with their little +ventures, and then retire never more to be seen or noticed. Of all +the shops that are opened year after year in London, not above a half +remain in existence for a period of twelve months; and not a half +ever afford a livelihood to those who open them. Is not that a matter +which ought to fill one with melancholy? On the establishment of +every new shop there are the same high hopes,--those very hopes with +which Brown, Jones, and Robinson commenced their career. It is not +that all expect to shine forth upon the world as merchant princes, +but all do expect to live upon the fruit of their labour and to put +by that which will make their old age respectable. Alas! alas! Of +those who thus hope how much the larger proportion are doomed to +disappointment. The little lots of goods that are bought and brought +together with so much pride turn themselves into dust and rubbish. +The gloss and gilding wear away, as they wear away also from the +heart of the adventurer, and then the small aspirant sinks back +into the mass of nothings from whom he had thought to rise. When +one thinks of it, it is very sad; but the sadness is not confined +to commerce. It is the same at the bar, with the army, and in the +Church. We see only the few who rise above the waves, and know +nothing of the many who are drowned beneath the waters. + +Perhaps something of all this was in the heart of our friend Robinson +as he placed himself at his desk in his little room. Now, for this +next day or two he would still be somebody in the career of Magenta +House. His services were wanted; and therefore, though he was ruined, +men smiled on him. But how would it be with him when that sale should +be over, and when he would be called upon to leave the premises and +walk forth into the street? He was aware now, though he had never so +thought of himself before, that in the short days of his prosperity +he had taken much upon himself, as the member of a prosperous firm. +It had never then occurred to him that he had given himself airs +because he was Robinson, of the house in Bishopsgate Street; but +now he bethought himself that he had perhaps done so. How would men +treat him when he should no longer be the same Robinson? How had he +condescended to Poppins! how had he domineered at the "Goose and +Gridiron!" how had he patronized those who served him in the shop! +Men remember these things of themselves quite as quickly as others +remember them. Robinson thought of all this now, and almost wished +that those visits to Blackfriars Bridge had not been in vain. + +But nevertheless it behoved him to work. He had promised that he +would use his own peculiar skill for the benefit of the creditors, +and therefore, shaking himself as it were out of his despondency, he +buckled himself to his desk. "It is a grand opportunity," he said, as +he thought of the task before him, "but my work will be no longer for +myself and partners. + + + The lofty rhyme I still must make, + Though other hands shall touch the money. + So do the bees for others' sake + Fill their waxen combs with honey." + + +Then, when he had thus solaced himself with verse, he sat down to his +work. + +There was a mine of wealth before him from which to choose. A +tradesman in preparing the ordinary advertisements of his business is +obliged to remember the morrow. He must not risk everything on one +cast of the die. He must be in some degree modest and circumspect, +lest he shut himself out from all possibility of rising to a higher +note on any future opportunity. But in preparing for a final +sacrifice the artist may give the reins to his imagination, and +plunge at once into all the luxuries of the superlative. But to this +pleasure there was one drawback. The thing had been done so often +that superlatives had lost their value, and it had come to pass that +the strongest language sounded impotently in the palled ears of the +public. What idea can, in its own nature, be more harrowing to the +soul than that of a TREMENDOUS SACRIFICE? but what effect would arise +now-a-days from advertising a sale under such a heading? Every little +milliner about Tottenham Court Road has her "Tremendous Sacrifice!" +when she desires to rid her shelves of ends of ribbons and bits of +soiled flowers. No; some other language than this must be devised. A +phraseology not only startling but new must be invented in preparing +the final sale of the house of Brown, Jones, and Robinson. + +He threw himself back in his chair, and sat for awhile silent, with +his finger fixed upon his brow. The first words were everything, and +what should be the first words? At last, in a moment, they came to +him, and he wrote as follows:-- + + + RUIN! RUIN!! RUIN!!! + + WASTEFUL AND IMPETUOUS SALE. + + At Magenta House, 81, Bishopsgate Street, on March the + 5th, and three following days, the Stock in Trade of + the bankrupts, Brown, Jones, and Robinson, valued at + 209,657_l._ 15_s._ 3_d._, will be thrown broadcast before + the public at the frightful reduction of 75 per Cent. on + the cost price. + + To acquire the impetus and force necessary for the + realization of so vast a property, all goods are quoted for + TRUE, HONEST, BONA-FIDE SALE at One-Quarter the Cost Price. + + This is a Solemn Fact, and one which well merits the + earnest attention of every mother of a family in England. + The goods are of the first class. And as no attempt in + trade has ever hitherto been made of equal magnitude to + that of the bankrupts', it may with absolute truth be said + that no such opportunity as this has ever yet been afforded + to the public of supplying themselves with the richest + articles of luxury at prices which are all but nominal. How + will any lady hereafter forgive herself, who shall fail + to profit by such an opportunity as this? + + +Such was the heading of his bills, and he read and re-read the words, +not without a glow of pleasure. One can be in love with ruin so long +as the excitement lasts. "A Solemn Fact!" he repeated to himself; "or +shall I say a Glorious Fact? Glorious would do well for the public +view of the matter; but as it touches the firm, Solemn, perhaps, is +more appropriate. Mother of a Family! Shall I say, also, of every +Father? I should like to include all; but then the fathers never +come, and it would sound loaded." Again he looked at the bill, again +read it, and then proceeded to describe with great accuracy, on a +fly-leaf, the dimensions of the paper to be used, the size of the +different types, and the adaptation of various colours. "That will +do," said he; "I think that will do." + +But this which he had now done, though, perhaps, the most important +part of his task, was by no means the most laborious. He had before +him various catalogues of the goods, and it remained for him to affix +the prices, to describe the qualities, and to put down the amount of +each on hand. This was no light task, and he worked hard at it into +the middle of the night. But long before that time came he had thrust +away from him the inefficient lists with which he had been supplied, +and trusted himself wholly to his imagination. So may be seen the +inspired schoolmaster who has beneath his hands the wretched verses +of a dull pupil. For awhile he attempts to reduce to reason and +prosody the futile efforts of the scholar, but anon he lays aside in +disgust the distasteful task, and turning his eyes upwards to the +Muse who has ever been faithful, he dashes off a few genial lines of +warm poetry. The happy juvenile, with wondering pen, copies the work, +and the parent's heart rejoices over the prize which his child has +won. So was it now with Robinson. What could he do with a poor gross +of hose, numbered 7 to 10? or what with a score or two of middling +kids? There were five dozen and nine left of the Katakairions. Was he +to put down such numbers as those in his sacrificial catalogue? For +awhile he kept these entries before him as a guide--as a guide which +in some sort he might follow at a wide distance. But he found that +it was impossible for him to be so guided, even at any distance, and +at last he thrust the poor figures from him altogether and trampled +them under his feet. "Tablecloths, seven dozen and a half, different +sizes." That was the last item he read, and as he pushed it away, the +following were the words which his fertile pen produced:-- + + + The renowned Flemish Treble Table Damasks, of argentine + brightness and snow-like purity, with designs of absolute + grandeur and artistic perfection of outline. To dine eight + persons, worth 1_l,_ 8_s._ 6_d._, for 7_s._ 3_d._; to dine + twelve, worth 1_l._ 18_s._ 6_d._, for 10_s._ 11½_d._; to + dine sixteen, worth 3_l._ 19_s._ 6_d._, for 19_s._ 9¼_d._; + and so on, at the same rate, to any size which the + epicurean habits of this convivial age can possibly + require. + + +Space will not permit us here to give the bill entire, but after this +fashion was it framed. And then the final note was as follows:-- + + + N.B.--Many tons weight of First-Class Table Damasks and + Sheetings, soiled but not otherwise impaired; also of + Ribbons, Gloves, Hose, Shirts, Crinolines, Paletots, + Mantles, Shawls, Prints, Towels, Blankets, Quilts, and + Flouncings, will be sold on the first two days at BUYERS' + OWN PRICES. + + +"There," said he, as he closed down his ink-bottle at three o'clock +in the morning, "that, I suppose, is my last day's work in the house +of Brown, Jones, and Robinson. I have worked, not for myself, but +others, and I have worked honestly." Then he went home, and slept as +though he had no trouble on his mind. + +On the following morning he again was there, and Messrs. Giles, +Burrows, and Sloman attended with him. Mr. Brown, also, and Mr. Jones +were present. On this occasion the meeting was held in Mr. Brown's +sitting-room, and they were all assembled in order that Robinson +might read over the sale list as he had prepared it. Poor Mr. Brown +sat in a corner of his old sofa, very silent. Now and again, as some +long number or specially magniloquent phrase would strike his ear, he +expressed his surprise by a sort of gasp; but throughout the whole +morning he did not speak a word as to the business on hand. Jones for +the first few minutes attempted to criticize; but the authority of +Mr. Sloman and the burly aspect of Mr. Giles the paper-dealer, were +soon too much for his courage, and he also collapsed into silence. +But the three gentlemen who were most concerned did not show all that +silent acquiescence which George Robinson's painful exertions on +their behalf so richly deserved. + +"Impetuous!" said Mr. Sloman. "What does 'impetuous' mean? I never +heard tell before of an impetuous sacrifice. Tremendous is the proper +word, Mr. Robinson." + +"Tremendous is not my word," answered Robinson; "and as to the +meaning of impetuous--" + +"It sounds well, I think," said Mr. Burrows; and then they went on. + +"Broadcast--broadcast!" said Mr. Giles. "That means sowing, don't +it?" + +"Exactly," said Robinson. "Have not I sown, and are not you to reap? +If you will allow me I will go on." He did go on, and by degrees got +through the whole heading; but there was hardly a word which was not +contested. It is all very well for a man to write, when he himself is +the sole judge of what shall be written; but it is a terrible thing +to have to draw up any document for the approval of others. One's +choicest words are torn away, one's figures of speech are maltreated, +one's stops are misunderstood, and one's very syntax is put to +confusion; and then, at last, whole paragraphs are cashiered as +unnecessary. First comes the torture and then the execution. "Come, +Wilkins, you have the pen of a ready writer; prepare for us this +document." In such words is the victim addressed by his colleagues. +Unhappy Wilkins! he little dreams of the misery before him, as he +proudly applies himself to his work. + +But it is beautiful to hear and see, when two scribes have been +appointed, how at first they praise each other's words, as did +Trissotin and Vadius; how gradually each objects to this comma +or to that epithet; how from moment to moment their courage will +arise,--till at last every word that the other has written is foul +nonsense and flat blasphemy;--till Vadius at last will defy his +friend in prose and verse, in Greek and Latin. + +Robinson on this occasion had no rival, but not the less were his +torments very great. "Argentine brightness!" said Mr. Giles. "What's +'argentine?' I don't like 'argentine.' You'd better put that out, Mr. +Robinson." + +"It's the most effective word in the whole notice," said Robinson, +and then he passed on. + +"Tons weight of towelling!" said Mr. Sloman. "That's coming it a +little too strong, Mr. Robinson." + +This was the end of the catalogue. "Gentlemen," said Robinson, rising +from his chair, "what little I have been able to do for you in this +matter I have done willingly. There is the notice of your sale, drawn +out in such language as seems suitable to me. If it answers your +purpose, I pray that you will use it. If you can frame one that will +do so better, I beg that no regard for my feelings may stand in your +way. My only request to you is this,--that if my words be used, they +may not be changed or garbled." Then, bowing to them all, he left the +room. + +They knew the genius of the man, and the notice afterwards appeared +exactly in the form in which Robinson had framed it. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +FAREWELL. + + +For the four appointed days the sale was continued, and it was +wondrous to see with what animation the things went off. It seemed as +though ladies were desirous of having a souvenir from Magenta House, +and that goods could be sold at a higher price under the name of a +sacrifice than they would fetch in the ordinary way of trade. "If +only we could have done as well," Robinson said to his partner Jones, +wishing that, if possible, there might be good humour between them in +these last days. + +"We did do quite as well, and better," said Jones, "only the money +was thrown away in them horrid advertisements." After that, George +Robinson made no further effort to maintain friendly relations with +Mr. Jones. + +"George," said Mr. Brown, "I hope they'll allow me something. They +ought; oughtn't they? There wouldn't have been nothing, only for my +four thousand pounds." Robinson did not take the trouble to explain +to him that had he kept his four thousand pounds out of the way, +the creditors would not now have any lost money to lament. Robinson +was careful to raise no hopes by his answer; but, nevertheless, he +resolved that when the sale was over, he would do his best. + +On the fifth day, when the shop had been well nigh cleared of all the +goods, the premises themselves were sold. Brown, Jones, and Robinson +had taken them on a term of years, and the lease with all the +improvements was put up to auction. When we say that the price which +the property fetched exceeded the whole sum spent for external +and internal decorations, including the Magenta paint and the +plate-glass, we feel that the highest possible testimony is given to +the taste and talent displayed by the firm. + +It was immediately after this that application was made to the +creditors on behalf of Mr. Brown. + +"He brought four thousand pounds into the business," said Robinson, +"and now he hasn't a penny of his own." + +"And we have none of us got a penny," whined out Mr. Jones, who was +standing by. + +"Mr. Jones and I are young, and can earn our bread," said Robinson; +"but that old man must go into the workhouse, if you do not feel it +possible to do something for him." + +"And so must my poor babbies," said Jones. "As to work, I ain't fit +for it." + +But he was soon interrupted, and made to understand that he might +think himself lucky if he were not made to disgorge that which +he already possessed. As to Mr. Brown, the creditors with much +generosity agreed that an annuity of 20_s._ a week should be +purchased for him out of the proceeds of the sale. "I ain't long for +this world, George," he said, when he was told; "and they ought to +get it cheap. Put 'em up to that, George; do now." Twenty shillings a +week was not much for all his wants; but, nevertheless, he might be +more comfortable with that than he had been for many a year, if only +his daughter would be kind to him. Alas, alas! was it within the +nature of things that his daughters should be kind? + +It was on this occasion, when the charitable intention of the +creditors was communicated to Mr. Brown by Robinson, that that +conversation took place to which allusion has been made in the +opening chapter of these memoirs. Of course, it was necessary that +each member of the firm should provide in some way for his future +necessities. Mr. Jones had signified his intention of opening a small +hairdresser's shop in Gray's Inn Lane. "I was brought up to it once," +he said, "and it don't require much ready money." Both Mr. Brown and +Robinson knew that he was in possession of money, but it was not now +worth their while to say more about this. The fox had made good his +prey, and who could say where it was hidden? + +"And what will you do, George?" asked Mr. Brown. + +Then it was that Robinson communicated to them the fact that +application had been made to him by the Editor of a first class +Magazine for a written account of the doings of the firm. "I think it +may be of advantage to commerce in general," the Editor had said with +his customary dignity of expression and propriety of demeanour. "I +quite agree with you," Robinson had replied, "if only the commercial +world of Great Britain can be induced to read the lesson." The Editor +seemed to think that the commercial world of Great Britain did read +the CORNHILL MAGAZINE, and an arrangement was quickly made between +them. Those who have perused the chapter in question will remember +how Robinson yielded when the senior partner pleaded that as they had +been partners so long, they should still be partners to the end; and +how he had yielded again when it was suggested to him that he should +receive some assistance in the literary portion of the work. That +assistance has been given, and George Robinson hopes that it may have +been of advantage. + +"I suppose we shall see each other sometimes, George," Maryanne said +to him, when she came down to his little room to bid him farewell. + +"I hope we shall, Maryanne." + +"I don't suppose we shall ever dance together again at the Hall of +Harmony." + +"No, Maryanne, never. That phase of life is for me over. Neither with +you nor with any other fair girl shall I again wanton away the flying +hours. Life is too precious for that; and the work which falls upon a +man's shoulders is too exacting. The Hall of Harmony is for children, +Maryanne;--for grown children, perhaps, but still for children." + +"You used to like it, George." + +"I did; and could again. So could I again stop with longing mouth at +the window of that pastrycook, whose tarts in early life attracted +all my desires. I could again be a boy in everything, did I not +recognize the stern necessity which calls me to be a man. I could +dance with you still, whirling swiftly round the room to the sweet +sound of the music, stretching the hours of delight out to the very +dawn, were it not for Adam's doom. In the sweat of my brow must I eat +my bread. There is a time for all things, Maryanne; but with me the +time for such pastimes as those is gone." + +"You'll keep company with some other young woman before long, George, +and then you'll be less gloomy." + +"Never! That phase of life is also over. Why should I? To what +purpose?" + +"To be married, of course." + +"Yes; and become a woman's slave, like poor Poppins; or else have +my heart torn again with racking jealousy, as it was with you. No, +Maryanne! Let those plodding creatures link themselves with women +whose bodies require comforting but whose minds never soar. The world +must be populated, and therefore let the Briskets marry." + +"I suppose you've heard of him, George?" + +"Not a word." + +"La, now! I declare you've no curiosity to inquire about any one. If +I was dead and buried to-morrow, I believe you'd never ask a word +about me." + +"I would go to your grave, Maryanne, and sit there in silence." + +"Would you, now? I hope you won't, all the same. But about Brisket. +You remember when that row was, and you were so nigh choking him?" + +"Do I remember? Ay, Maryanne; when shall I forget it? It was the last +hour of my madness." + +"I never admired you so much as I did then, George. But never mind. +That's all done and over now;--isn't it?" + +"All done and over," said Robinson, mournfully repeating her words. + +"Of course it is. But about Brisket. Immediately after that, the very +next day, he went out to Gogham,--where he was always going, you +know, with that cart of his, to buy sheep. Sheep, indeed!" + +"And wasn't it for sheep?" + +"No, George. Brisket was the sheep, and there was there a little +she-wolf that has got him at last into her claws. Brisket is married, +George." + +"What! another Poppins! Ha! ha! ha! We shall not want for children." + +"He has seen his way at last. She was a drover's daughter; and now +he's married her and brought her home." + +"A drover's daughter?" + +"Well, he says a grazier's; but it's all the same. He never would +have done for me, George; never. And I'll tell you more; I don't +think I ever saw the man as would. I should have taken either of +you,--I was so knocked about among 'em. But I should have made you +miserable, whichever it was. It's a consolation to me when I think of +that." + +And it was a consolation also to him. He had loved her,--had loved +her very dearly. He had been almost mad for love of her. But yet +he had always known, that had he won her she would have made him +miserable. There was consolation in that when he thought of his loss. +Then, at last, he wished her good-by. "And now farewell, Maryanne. Be +gentle with that old man." + +"George," she said, "as long as he wants me, I'll stick to him. He's +never been a good father to me; but if he wants me, I'll stick to +him. As to being gentle, it's not in me. I wasn't brought up gentle, +and you can't teach an old dog new tricks." Those were the last words +she spoke to him, and they had, at any rate, the merit of truth. + +And then, before he walked out for the last time from the portals of +Magenta House, he bade adieu to his old partner Mr. Brown. "God bless +you, George!" said the old man; "God bless you!" + +"Mr. Brown," said he, "I cannot part from you without acknowledging +that the loss of all your money sits very heavy on my heart." + +"Never think of it, George." + +"But I shall think of it. You were an old man, Mr. Brown, and the +money was enough for you; or, if you did go into trade again, the old +way would have suited you best." + +"Well, George, now you mention it, I think it would." + +"It was the same mistake, Mr. Brown, that we have so often heard +of,--putting old wine into a new bottle. The bottle is broken and the +wine is spilt. For myself, I've learned a lesson, and I am a wiser +man; but I'm sorry for you, Mr. Brown. + +"I shall never say a word to blame you, George." + +"As to my principles,--that system of commerce which I have +advocated,--as to that, I am still without a doubt. I am certain +of the correctness of my views. Look at Barlywig and his colossal +fortune, and 40,000_l._ a year spent in advertising." + +"But then you should have your 40,000_l._ a year." + +"By no means! But the subject is a long one, Mr. Brown, and cannot +now be discussed with advantage. This, however, I do feel,--that I +should not have embarked your little all in such an enterprise. It +was enough for you; but to me, with my views, it was nothing,--less +than nothing. I will begin again with unimpeded wings, and you shall +hear of my success. But for your sake, Mr. Brown, I regret what is +past." Then he pressed the old man's hand and went forth from Magenta +House. From that day to this present one he has never again entered +the door. + +"And so Brisket is married. Brisket is right. Brisket is a happy +man," he said to himself, as he walked slowly down the passage by +St. Botolph's Church. "Brisket is certainly right; I will go and see +Brisket." So he did; and continuing his way along the back of the +Bank and the narrow street which used to be called Lad Lane,--I wish +they would not alter the names of the streets; was it not enough +that the "Swan with Two Necks" should be pulled down, foreshadowing, +perhaps, in its ruin the fate of another bird with two necks, from +which this one took its emblematic character?--and so making his way +out into Aldersgate Street. He had never before visited the Lares of +Brisket, for Brisket had been his enemy. But Brisket was his enemy no +longer, and he walked into the shop with a light foot and a pleasant +smile. There, standing at some little distance behind the block, +looking with large, wondering eyes at the carcases of the sheep which +hung around her, stood a wee little woman, very pretty, with red +cheeks, and red lips, and short, thick, clustering curls. This was +the daughter of the grazier from Gogham. "The shopman will be back +in a minute," said she. "I ought to be able to do it myself, but I'm +rather astray about the things yet awhile." Then George Robinson told +her who he was. + +She knew his name well, and gave him her little plump hand in token +of greeting. "Laws a mercy! are you George Robinson? I've heard such +a deal about you. He's inside, just tidying hisself a bit for dinner. +Who do you think there is here, Bill?" and she opened the door +leading to the back premises. "Here's George Robinson, that you're +always so full of." Then he followed her out into a little yard, +where he found Brisket in the neighbourhood of a pump, smelling +strongly of yellow soap, with his sleeves tucked up, and hard at work +with a rough towel. + +"Robinson, my boy," cried he, "I'm glad to see you; and so is Mrs. +B. Ain't you, Em'ly?" Whereupon Em'ly said that she was delighted +to see Mr. Robinson. "And you're just in time for as tidy a bit of +roast veal as you won't see again in a hurry,--fed down at Gogham +by Em'ly's mother. I killed it myself, with my own hands. Didn't I, +Em'ly?" + +Robinson stopped and partook of the viands which were so strongly +recommended to him; and then, after dinner, he and Brisket and the +bride became very intimate and confidential over a glass of hot +brandy-and-water. + +"I don't do this kind of thing, only when I've got a friend," said +Brisket, tapping the tumbler with his spoon. "But I really am glad to +see you. I've took a fancy to you now, ever since you went so nigh +throttling me. By Jove! though, I began to think it was all up with +me,--only for Sarah Jane." + +"But he didn't!" said Emily, looking first at her great husband and +then at Robinson's slender proportions. + +"Didn't he though? But he just did. And what do you think, Em'ly? He +wanted me once to sit with him on a barrel of gunpowder." + +"A barrel of gunpowder!" + +"And smoke our pipes there,--quite comfortable. And then he wanted me +to go and fling ourselves into the river. That was uncommon civil, +wasn't it? And then he well nigh choked me." + +"It was all about that young woman," said Emily, with a toss of her +head. "And from all I can hear tell, she wasn't worth fighting for. +As for you, Bill, I wonder at you; so I do." + +"I thought I saw my way," said Brisket. + +"It's well for you that you've got somebody near you that will see +better now. And as for you, Mr. Robinson; I hope you won't be long in +the dumps, neither." Whereupon he explained to her that he was by no +means in the dumps. He had failed in trade, no doubt, but he was now +engaged upon a literary work, as to which considerable expectation +had been raised, and he fully hoped to provide for his humble wants +in this way till he should be able to settle himself again to some +new commercial enterprise. + +"It isn't that as she means," said Brisket. "She means about taking a +wife. That's all the women ever thinks of." + +"What I was saying is, that as you and Bill were both after her, +and as you are both broke with her, and seeing that Bill's provided +himself like--" + +"And a charming provision he has made," said Robinson. + +"I did see my way," said Brisket, with much self-content. + +"So you ought to look elsewhere as well as he," continued Emily. +"According to all accounts, you've neither of you lost so very much +in not getting Maryanne Brown." + +"Maryanne Brown is a handsome young woman," said Robinson. + +"Why, she's as red as red," said Mrs. Brisket; "quite carroty, they +tell me. And as for handsome, Mr. Robinson;--handsome is as handsome +does; that's what I say. If I had two sweethearts going about talking +of gunpowder, and throwing themselves into rivers along of me, +I'd--I'd--I'd never forgive myself. So, Mr. Robinson, I hope you'll +suit yourself soon. Bill, don't you take any more of that brandy. +Don't now, when I tell you not." + +Then Robinson rose and took his leave, promising to make future +visits to Aldersgate Street. And as Brisket squeezed his hand at +parting, all the circumstances of that marriage were explained in a +very few words. "She had three hundred, down, you know;--really down. +So I said done and done, when I found the money wasn't there with +Maryanne. And I think that I've seen my way." + +Robinson congratulated him, and assured him that he thought he had +seen it very clearly. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +GEORGE ROBINSON'S DREAM. + + +George Robinson, though his present wants were provided for by his +pen, was by no means disposed to sink into a literary hack. It was by +commerce that he desired to shine. It was to trade,--trade, in the +highest sense of the word,--that his ambition led him. Down at the +Crystal Palace he had stood by the hour together before the statue +of the great Cheetham,--ominous name!--of him who three centuries +ago had made money by dealing in Manchester goods. Why should not +he also have his statue? But then how was he to begin? He had begun, +and failed. With hopeful words he had declared to Mr. Brown that not +on that account was he daunted; but still there was before him the +burden of another commencement. Many of us know what it is to have +high hopes, and yet to feel from time to time a terrible despondency +when the labours come by which those hopes should be realized. +Robinson had complained that he was impeded in his flight by Brown +and Jones. Those impediments had dropped from him now; and yet he +knew not how to proceed upon his course. + +He walked forth one evening, after his daily task, pondering these +things as he went. He made his solitary way along the Kingsland Road, +through Tottenham, and on to Edmonton, thinking deeply of his future +career. What had John Gilpin done that had made him a citizen of +renown? Had he advertised? Or had he contented himself simply with +standing behind his counter till customers should come to him? In +John Gilpin's time the science of advertisement was not born;--or, if +born, was in its earliest infancy. And yet he had achieved renown. +And Cheetham;--but probably Cheetham had commenced with a capital. + +Thus he walked on till he found himself among the fields,--those +first fields which greet the eyes of a Londoner, in which wheat is +not grown, but cabbages and carrots for the London market; and here +seating himself upon a gate, he gave his mind up to a close study +of the subject. First he took from his pocket a short list which he +always carried, and once more read over the names and figures which +it bore. + + + Barlywig, £40,000 per annum. + + +How did Barlywig begin such an outlay as that? He knew that Barlywig +had, as a boy, walked up to town with twopence in his pocket, and in +his early days, had swept out the shop of a shoemaker. The giants of +trade all have done that. Then he went on with the list:-- + + + Holloway . . . . £30,000 per annum. + Moses . . . . 10,000 " + Macassar Oil . . 10,000 " + Dr. De Jongh . . 10,000 " + + +What a glorious fraternity! There were many others that followed with +figures almost equally stupendous. Revalenta Arabica! Bedsteads! +Paletots! Food for Cattle! But then how did these great men begin? +He himself had begun with some money in his hand, and had failed. +As to them, he believed that they had all begun with twopence. As +for genius and special talent, it was admitted on all sides that +he possessed it. Of that he could feel no doubt, as other men were +willing to employ him. + +"Shall I never enjoy the fruits of my own labour?" said he to +himself. "Must I still be as the bee, whose honey is robbed from him +as soon as made? + + + The lofty rhyme I still must build, + Though other hands shall touch the money. + + +Will this be my fate for ever?-- + + + The patient oxen till the furrows, + But never eat the generous corn. + + +Shall the corn itself never be my own?" + +And as he sat there the words of Poppins came upon his memory. "You +advertising chaps never do anything. All that printing never makes +the world any richer." At the moment he had laughed down Poppins with +absolute scorn; but now, at this solitary moment he began to reflect +whether there might be any wisdom in his young friend's words. "The +question has been argued," he continued in his soliloquy, "by the +greatest philosopher of the age. A man goes into hats, and in order +to force a sale, he builds a large cart in the shape of a hat, paints +it blue, and has it drawn through the streets. He still finds that +his sale is not rapid; and with a view of increasing it, what shall +he do? Shall he make his felt hats better, or shall he make his +wooden hat bigger? Poppins and the philosopher say that the former +plan will make the world the richer, but they do not say that it will +sell the greater number of hats. Am I to look after the world? Am I +not to look to myself? Is not the world a collection of individuals, +all of whom are doing so? Has anything been done for the world by the +Quixotic aspirations of general philanthropy, at all equal to that +which individual enterprise has achieved? Poppins and the philosopher +would spend their energies on a good hat. But why? Not that they love +the head that is to wear it. The sale would still be their object. +They would sell hats, not that the heads of men may be well covered, +but that they themselves might live and become rich. To force a sale +must be the first duty of a man in trade, and a man's first duty +should be all in all to him. + +"If the hats sold from the different marts be not good enough, with +whom does the fault rest? Is it not with the customers who purchase +them? Am I to protect the man who demands from me a cheap hat? Am I +to say, 'Sir, here is a cheap hat. It is made of brown paper, and the +gum will run from it in the first shower. It will come to pieces when +worn and disgrace you among your female acquaintances by becoming +dinged and bulged?' Should I do him good? He would buy his cheap +hat elsewhere, and tell pleasant stories of the madman he had met. +The world of purchasers will have cheap articles, and the world of +commerce must supply them. The world of purchasers will have their +ears tickled, and the world of commerce must tickle them. Of what use +is all this about adulteration? If Mrs. Jones will buy her sausages +at a lower price per pound than pork fetches in the market, has she +a right to complain when some curious doctor makes her understand +that her viands have not been supplied exclusively from the pig? +She insists on milk at three halfpence a quart; but the cow will +not produce it. The cow cannot produce it at that price, unless +she be aided by the pump; and therefore the pump aids her. If there +be dishonesty in this, it is with the purchaser, not with the +vendor,--with the public, not with the tradesman." + +But still as he sat upon the gate, thus arguing with himself, a +dream came over him, a mist of thought as it were, whispering to him +strangely that even yet he might be wrong. He endeavoured to throw it +off, shaking himself as it were, and striving to fix his mind firmly +upon his old principles. But it was of no avail. He knew he was +awake; but yet he dreamed; and his dream was to him as a terrible +nightmare. + +What if he were wrong! What if those two philosophers had on their +side some truth! He would fain be honest if he knew the way. What if +those names upon his list were the names of false gods, whose worship +would lead him to a hell of swindlers instead of the bright heaven of +commercial nobility! "Barlywig is in Parliament," he said to himself, +over and over again, in loud tones, striving to answer the spirit +of his dream. "In Parliament! He sits upon committees; men jostle +to speak to him; and he talks loud among the big ones of the earth. +He spends forty thousand a year in his advertisements, and grows +incredibly rich by the expenditure. Men and women flock in crowds to +his shop. He lives at Albert Gate in a house big enough for a royal +duke, and is the lord of ten thousand acres in Yorkshire. Barlywig +cannot have been wrong, let that philosopher philosophize as he +will!" But still the dream was there, crushing him like a nightmare. + +"Why don't you produce something, so as to make the world richer?" +Poppins had said. He knew well what Poppins had meant by making the +world richer. If a man invent a Katakairion shirt, he does make the +world richer; if it be a good one, he makes it much richer. But the +man who simply says that he has done so adds nothing to the world's +wealth. His answer had been that it was his work to sell the shirts, +and that of the purchaser to buy them. Let each look to his own work. +If he could be successful in his selling, then he would have a right +to be proud of his success. The world would be best served by close +attention on the part of each to his own business. Such had been +the arguments with which he had silenced his friend and contented +himself, while the excitement of the shop in Bishopsgate Street was +continued; but now, as he sat there upon the gate, this dream came +upon him, and he began to doubt. Could it be that a man had a double +duty, each separate from the other;--a duty domestic and private, +requiring his devotion and loyalty to his wife, his children, his +partners, and himself; and another duty, widely extended in all its +bearings and due to the world in which he lived? Could Poppins have +seen this, while he was blind? Was a man bound to produce true shirts +for the world's benefit even though he should make no money by so +doing;--either true shirts or none at all? + +The evening light fell upon him as he still sat there on the gate, +and he became very melancholy. "If I have been wrong," he said to +himself, "I must give up the fight. I cannot begin again now and +learn new precepts. After all that I have done with that old man's +money, I cannot now own that I have been wrong, and commence again +on a theory taught to me by Poppins. If this be so, then farewell to +Commerce!" And as he said so, he dropped from his seat, and, leaning +over the rail, hid his face within his hands. + +As he stood there, suddenly a sound struck his ears, and he knew +that the bells of Edmonton were ringing. The church was distant, but +nevertheless the tones came sharp upon him with their clear music. +They rang on quickly, loudly, and with articulate voice. Surely there +were words within those sounds. What was it they were saying to him? +He listened for a few seconds, for a minute or two, for five minutes; +and then his ear and senses had recognized the language--"Turn again, +Robinson, Member of Parliament." He heard it so distinctly that his +ear would not for a moment abandon the promise. The words could not +be mistaken. "Turn again, Robinson, Member of Parliament." + +Then he did turn, and walked back to London with a trusting heart. + + + +London: Printed by Smith, Elder and Co., Old Bailey, E.C. + + + + + * * * * * * + + + +Transcriber's note: + + Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. + + Chapter VIII, paragraph 56. Previously Fame was attributed + masculine gender. The reader might note the sentence in + this paragraph: On that morrow he was more enterprising + than ever, and it was then that he originated the idea of + the four men in armour, and of Fame with HER classical + horn and gilded car. + + Specific changes in wording of the text are listed below. + + Chapter XII, paragraph 25. The word "partners" was changed + to "partner" in the sentence: And might it not be well for + her to forget that other Samson, and once more to trust + herself to her father's PARTNER? + + Chapter XVI, paragraph 44. The order of the words "was it" + was inverted in the sentence: Why WAS IT, that at this + eventful period of Robinson's existence Mrs. Poppins + should have turned against him? + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STRUGGLES OF BROWN, JONES, AND +ROBINSON*** + + +******* This file should be named 27533-8.txt or 27533-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/7/5/3/27533 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p class="noindent">Title: The Struggles of Brown, Jones, and Robinson</p> +<p class="noindent"> By One of the Firm</p> +<p class="noindent">Author: Anthony Trollope</p> +<p class="noindent">Release Date: December 14, 2008 [eBook #27533]<br /> +HTML version most recently updated: June 10, 2010</p> +<p class="noindent">Language: English</p> +<p class="noindent">Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p class="noindent">***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STRUGGLES OF BROWN, JONES, AND ROBINSON***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by<br /> + Joseph E. Loewenstein, M.D., and Delphine Lettau</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class="center"> +<table style="margin: 0 auto" cellpadding="4px"> + <tr> + <td align="center"> + <a href="images/il1.jpg"> + <img src="images/il1-t.jpg" height="500" + alt="Jones is vanquished by Mrs. Morony + (Chapter XIV)." /></a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="center"> + <span class="caption">Jones is vanquished by Mrs. Morony (Chapter XIV).<br /> + Click to <a href="images/il1.jpg">ENLARGE</a></span> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="narrow" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class="center"> +<table style="margin: 0 auto" cellpadding="4px"> + <tr> + <td align="center"> + <a href="images/il2.jpg"> + <img src="images/il2-t.jpg" height="500" + alt="Title illustration" /></a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="center"> + <span class="caption">Click to + <a href="images/il2.jpg">ENLARGE</a></span> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="narrow" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h3>THE STRUGGLES</h3> + +<h5>OF</h5> + +<h1>BROWN, JONES, AND ROBINSON:</h1> + +<h4>BY ONE OF THE FIRM</h4> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h3>EDITED BY ANTHONY TROLLOPE.</h3> + +<h5>AUTHOR OF "FRAMLEY PARSONAGE," "THE LAST CHRONICLE OF BARSET," +&c. &c.</h5> +<p> </p> + +<h6>REPRINTED FROM THE "CORNHILL MAGAZINE."</h6> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h4>WITH FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS.</h4> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h4>LONDON:<br /> +SMITH, ELDER & CO., 15, WATERLOO PLACE.<br /> +<span class="small">1870.</span></h4> + + +<p> </p> +<hr class="narrow" /> +<p> </p> + +<h3>CONTENTS</h3> +<div class="center"> +<table class="sm" style="margin: 0 auto" cellpadding="3"> +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">I. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c1" >PREFACE. BY ONE OF THE FIRM.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">II. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c2" >THE EARLY HISTORY OF OUR MR. BROWN,<br />WITH SOME FEW WORDS OF MR. JONES.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">III. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c3" >THE EARLY HISTORY OF MR. ROBINSON.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">IV. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c4" >NINE TIMES NINE IS EIGHTY-ONE. SHOWING HOW BROWN,<br />JONES, AND ROBINSON SELECTED THEIR HOUSE OF BUSINESS.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">V. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c5" >THE DIVISION OF LABOUR.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">VI. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c6" >IT IS OUR OPENING DAY.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">VII. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c7" >MISS BROWN PLEADS HER OWN CASE, AND MR. ROBINSON<br />WALKS ON BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">VIII. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c8" >MR. BRISKET THINKS HE SEES HIS WAY, AND MR. ROBINSON<br />AGAIN WALKS ON BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">IX. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c9" >SHOWING HOW MR. ROBINSON WAS EMPLOYED<br />ON THE OPENING DAY.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">X. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c10" >SHOWING HOW THE FIRM INVENTED A NEW SHIRT.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">XI. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c11" >JOHNSON OF MANCHESTER.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">XII. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c12" >SAMSON AND DELILAH.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">XIII. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c13" >THE WISDOM OF POPPINS.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">XIV. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c14" >MISTRESS MORONY.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">XV. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c15" >MISS BROWN NAMES THE DAY.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">XVI. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c16" >SHOWING HOW ROBINSON WALKED UPON ROSES.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">XVII. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c17" >A TEA-PARTY IN BISHOPSGATE STREET.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">XVIII. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c18" >AN EVENING AT THE "GOOSE AND GRIDIRON."</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">XIX. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c19" >GEORGE ROBINSON'S MARRIAGE.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">XX. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c20" >SHOWING HOW MR. BRISKET DIDN'T SEE HIS WAY.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">XXI. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c21" >MR. BROWN IS TAKEN ILL.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">XXII. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c22" >WASTEFUL AND IMPETUOUS SALE.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">XXIII. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c23" >FAREWELL.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right" valign="top">XXIV. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c24" >GEORGE ROBINSON'S DREAM.</a></td></tr> +</table> +</div> +<p> </p> +<hr class="narrow" /> +<p> </p> + +<h4>THE STRUGGLES</h4> + +<h6>OF</h6> + +<h3>BROWN, JONES, AND ROBINSON.</h3> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="narrow" /> + +<p><a name="c1" id="c1"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER I.</h3> +<h4>PREFACE.</h4> +<h5>BY ONE OF THE FIRM.<br /> </h5> + + +<p>It will be observed by the literary and commercial world that, in +this transaction, the name of the really responsible party does not +show on the title-page. I—George Robinson—am that party. When our +Mr. Jones objected to the publication of these memoirs unless they +appeared as coming from the firm itself, I at once gave way. I had no +wish to offend the firm, and, perhaps, encounter a lawsuit for the +empty honour of seeing my name advertised as that of an author. We +had talked the matter over with our Mr. Brown, who, however, was at +that time in affliction, and not able to offer much that was +available. One thing he did say; "As we are partners," said Mr. +Brown, "let's be partners to the end." "Well," said I, "if you say +so, Mr. Brown, so it shall be." I never supposed that Mr. Brown would +set the Thames on fire, and soon learnt that he was not the man to +amass a fortune by British commerce. He was not made for the guild of +Merchant Princes. But he was the senior member of our firm, and I +always respected the old-fashioned doctrine of capital in the person +of our Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>When Mr. Brown said, "Let's be partners to the end; it won't be for +long, Mr. Robinson," I never said another word. "No," said I, "Mr. +Brown; you're not what you was—and you're down a peg; I'm not the +man to take advantage and go against your last wishes. Whether for +long or whether for short, we'll pull through in the same boat to the +end. It shall be put on the title-page—'By One of the Firm.'" "God +bless you, Mr. Robinson," said he; "God bless you."</p> + +<p>And then Mr. Jones started another objection. The reader will soon +realize that anything I do is sure to be wrong with Mr. Jones. It +wouldn't be him else. He next declares that I can't write English, +and that the book must be corrected, and put out by an editor? Now, +when I inform the discerning British Public that every advertisement +that has been posted by Brown, Jones, and Robinson, during the last +three years has come from my own unaided pen, I think few will doubt +my capacity to write the "Memoirs of Brown, Jones, and Robinson," +without any editor whatsoever.</p> + +<p>On this head I was determined to be firm. What! after preparing, and +correcting, and publishing such thousands of advertisements in prose +and verse and in every form of which the language is susceptible, to +be told that I couldn't write English! It was Jones all over. If +there is a party envious of the genius of another party in this +sublunary world that party is our Mr. Jones.</p> + +<p>But I was again softened by a touching appeal from our senior +partner. Mr. Brown, though prosaic enough in his general ideas, was +still sometimes given to the Muses; and now, with a melancholy and +tender cadence, he quoted the following +<span class="nowrap">lines;—</span><br /> </p> + + +<blockquote class="med"> +<p class="noindent">"Let dogs delight to bark and bite,<br /> + For 'tis their nature to.<br /> + But 'tis a shameful sight to see, when partners of one firm like we,<br /> + Fall out, and chide, and fight!"<br /> </p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>So I gave in again.</p> + +<p>It was then arranged that one of Smith and Elder's young men should +look through the manuscript, and make any few alterations which the +taste of the public might require. It might be that the sonorous, +and, if I may so express myself, magniloquent phraseology in which I +was accustomed to invite the attention of the nobility and gentry to +our last importations was not suited for the purposes of light +literature, such as this. "In fiction, Mr. Robinson, your own unaided +talents would doubtless make you great," said to me the editor of +this Magazine; "but if I may be allowed an opinion, I do think that +in the delicate task of composing memoirs a little assistance may +perhaps be not inexpedient."</p> + +<p>This was prettily worded; so what with this, and what with our Mr. +Brown's poetry, I gave way; but I reserved to myself the right of an +epistolary preface in my own name. So here it is.<br /> </p> + + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Ladies and Gentlemen</span>,—I +am not a bit ashamed of my part in the +following transaction. I have done what little in me lay to further +British commerce. British commerce is not now what it was. It is +becoming open and free like everything else that is British;—open to +the poor man as well as to the rich. That bugbear Capital is a +crumbling old tower, and is pretty nigh brought to its last ruin. +Credit is the polished shaft of the temple on which the new world of +trade will be content to lean. That, I take it, is the one great +doctrine of modern commerce. Credit,—credit,—credit. Get credit, +and capital will follow. Doesn't the word speak for itself? Must not +credit be respectable? And is not the word "respectable" the highest +term of praise which can be applied to the British tradesman?</p> + +<p>Credit is the polished shaft of the temple. But with what are you to +polish it? The stone does not come from the quarry with its gloss on. +Man's labour is necessary to give it that beauteous exterior. Then +wherewith shall we polish credit? I answer the question at once. With +the pumice-stone and sand-paper of advertisement.</p> + +<p>Different great men have promulgated the different means by which +they have sought to subjugate the world. +"Audacity—audacity—audacity," was the lesson which one hero taught. +"Agitate—agitate—agitate," was the counsel of a second. +"Register—register—register," of a third. But I say—Advertise, +advertise, advertise! And I say it again and again—Advertise, +advertise, advertise! It is, or should be, the Shibboleth of British +commerce. That it certainly will be so I, George Robinson, hereby +venture to prophesy, feeling that on this subject something but +little short of inspiration has touched my eager pen.</p> + +<p>There are those,—men of the old school, who cannot rouse themselves +to see and read the signs of the time, men who would have been in the +last ranks, let them have lived when they would,—who object to it +that it is untrue,—who say that advertisements do not keep the +promises which they make. But what says the poet,—he whom we teach +our children to read? What says the stern moralist to his wicked +mother in the play? "Assume a virtue if you have it not?" and so say +I. "Assume a virtue if you have it not." It would be a great trade +virtue in a haberdasher to have forty thousand pairs of best hose +lying ready for sale in his warehouse. Let him assume that virtue if +he have it not. Is not this the way in which we all live, and the +only way in which it is possible to live comfortably. A gentleman +gives a dinner party. His lady, who has to work all day like a +dray-horse and scold the servants besides, to get things into order, +loses her temper. We all pretty well know what that means. Well; up +to the moment when she has to show, she is as bitter a piece of goods +as may be. But, nevertheless, she comes down all smiles, although she +knows that at that moment the drunken cook is spoiling the fish. She +assumes a virtue, though she has it not; and who will say she is not +right?</p> + +<p>Well; I say again and again to all young tradesmen;—Advertise, +advertise, advertise;—and don't stop to think too much about +capital. It is a bugbear. Capital is a bugbear; and it is talked +about by those who have it,—and by some that have not so much of it +neither,—for the sake of putting down competition, and keeping the +market to themselves.</p> + +<p>There's the same game going on all the world over; and it's the +natural game for mankind to play at. They who's up a bit is all for +keeping down them who is down; and they who is down is so very soft +through being down, that they've not spirit to force themselves up. +Now I saw that very early in life. There is always going on a battle +between aristocracy and democracy. Aristocracy likes to keep itself +to itself; and democracy is just of the same opinion, only wishes to +become aristocracy first.</p> + +<p>We of the people are not very fond of dukes; but we'd all like to be +dukes well enough ourselves. Now there are dukes in trade as well as +in society. Capitalists are our dukes; and as they don't like to have +their heels trod upon any more than the other ones, why they are +always preaching up capital. It is their star and garter, their +coronet, their ermine, their robe of state, their cap of maintenance, +their wand of office, their noli me tangere. But stars and garters, +caps and wands, and all other noli me tangeres, are gammon to those +who can see through them. And capital is gammon. Capital is a very +nice thing if you can get it. It is the desirable result of trade. A +tradesman looks to end with a capital. But it's gammon to say that he +can't begin without it. You might as well say a man can't marry +unless he has first got a family. Why, he marries that he may have a +family. It's putting the cart before the horse.</p> + +<p>It's my opinion that any man can be a duke if so be it's born to him. +It requires neither wit nor industry, nor any pushing nor go-ahead +whatsoever. A man may sit still in his arm-chair, half asleep half +his time, and only half awake the other, and be as good a duke as +need be. Well; it's just the same in trade. If a man is born to a +dukedom there, if he begins with a large capital, why, I for one +would not thank him to be successful. Any fool could do as much as +that. He has only to keep on polishing his own star and garter, and +there are lots of people to swear that there is no one like him.</p> + +<p>But give me the man who can be a duke without being born to it. Give +me the man who can go ahead in trade without capital; who can begin +the world with a quick pair of hands, a quick brain to govern them, +and can end with a capital.</p> + +<p>Well, there you are; a young tradesman beginning the world without +capital. Capital, though it's a bugbear, nevertheless it's a virtue. +Therefore, as you haven't got it, you must assume it. That's credit. +Credit I take to be the belief of other people in a thing that +doesn't really exist. When you go into your friend Smith's house, and +find Mrs. S. all smiles, you give her credit for the sweetest of +tempers. Your friend S. knows better; but then you see she's had wit +enough to obtain credit. When I draw a bill at three months, and get +it done, I do the same thing. That's credit. Give me credit enough, +and I don't care a brass button for capital. If I could have but one +wish, I would never ask a fairy for a second or a third. Let me have +but unreserved credit, and I'll beat any duke of either aristocracy.</p> + +<p>To obtain credit the only certain method is to advertise. Advertise, +advertise, advertise. That is, assume, assume, assume. Go on assuming +your virtue. The more you haven't got it, the more you must assume +it. The bitterer your own heart is about that drunken cook and that +idle husband who will do nothing to assist you, the sweeter you must +smile. Smile sweet enough, and all the world will believe you. +Advertise long enough, and credit will come.</p> + +<p>But there must be some nous in your advertisements; there must be a +system, and there must be some wit in your system. It won't suffice +now-a-days to stick up on a blank wall a simple placard to say that +you have forty thousand best hose just new arrived. Any wooden-headed +fellow can do as much as that. That might have served in the olden +times that we hear of, twenty years since; but the game to be +successful in these days must be played in another sort of fashion. +There must be some finish about your advertisements, something new in +your style, something that will startle in your manner. If a man can +make himself a real master of this art, we may say that he has learnt +his trade, whatever that trade may be. Let him know how to advertise, +and the rest will follow.</p> + +<p>It may be that I shouldn't boast; but yet I do boast that I have made +some little progress in this business. If I haven't yet practised the +art in all its perfections, nevertheless I flatter myself I have +learned how to practise it. Regarding myself as something of a master +of this art, and being actuated by purely philanthropic motives in my +wish to make known my experience, I now put these memoirs before the +public.</p> + +<p>It will, of course, be urged against me that I have not been +successful in what I have already attempted, and that our house has +failed. This is true. I have not been successful. Our house has +failed. But with whom has the fault been? Certainly not in my +department.</p> + +<p>The fact is, and in this my preface I will not keep the truth back +from a discerning public, that no firm on earth,—or indeed +elsewhere,—could be successful in which our Mr. Jones is one of the +partners. There is an overweening vanity about that man which is +quite upsetting. I confess I have been unable to stand it. Vanity is +always allied to folly, and the relationship is very close in the +person of our Mr. Jones. Of Mr. Brown I will never bring myself to +say one disrespectful word. He is not now what he was once. From the +bottom of my heart I pity his misfortunes. Think what it must be to +be papa to a Goneril and a Regan,—without the Cordelia. I have +always looked on Mrs. Jones as a regular Goneril; and as for the +Regan, why it seems to me that Miss Brown is likely to be Miss Regan +to the end of the chapter.</p> + +<p>No; of Mr. Brown I will say nothing disrespectful; but he never was +the man to be first partner in an advertising firm. That was our +mistake. He had old-fashioned views about capital which were very +burdensome. My mistake was this,—that in joining myself with Mr. +Brown, I compromised my principles, and held out, as it were, a left +hand to capital. He had not much, as will be seen; but he thought a +deal of what he had got, and talked a deal of it too. This impeded my +wings. This prevented me from soaring. One cannot touch pitch and not +be defiled. I have been untrue to myself in having had any dealings +on the basis of capital; and hence has it arisen that hitherto I have +failed.</p> + +<p>I make these confessions hoping that they may be serviceable to trade +in general. A man cannot learn a great secret, and the full use of a +great secret, all at once. My eyes are now open. I shall not again +make so fatal a mistake. I am still young. I have now learned my +lesson more thoroughly, and I yet anticipate success with some +confidence.</p> + +<p>Had Mr. Brown at once taken my advice, had his few thousand pounds +been liberally expended in commencing a true system of advertising, +we should have been,—I can hardly surmise where we should have been. +He was for sticking altogether to the old system. Mr. Jones was for +mixing the old and the new, for laying in stock and advertising as +well, with a capital of 4,000<i>l</i>! What my opinion is of Mr. Jones I +will not now say, but of Mr. Brown I will never utter one word of +disparagement.</p> + +<p>I have now expressed what few words I wish to say on my own bottom. +As to what has been done in the following pages by the young man who +has been employed to look over these memoirs and put them into shape, +it is not for me to speak. It may be that I think they might have +read more natural-like had no other cook had a finger in the pie. The +facts, however, are facts still. These have not been cooked.</p> + +<p>Ladies and gentlemen, you who have so long distinguished our firm by +a liberal patronage, to you I now respectfully appeal, and in showing +to you a new article I beg to assure you with perfect confidence that +there is nothing equal to it at the price at present in the market. +The supply on hand is immense, but as a sale of unprecedented +rapidity is anticipated, may I respectfully solicit your early +orders? If not approved of the article shall be changed.</p> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="ind2">Ladies and gentlemen,</span><br /> +<span class="ind4">We have the honour to subscribe ourselves,</span><br /> +<span class="ind6">With every respect,</span><br /> +<span class="ind8">Your most obedient humble servants,</span><br /> +<span class="ind12"><span class="smallcaps">Brown, Jones, +and Robinson</span>,</span><br /> +<span class="ind15">Per <span class="smallcaps">George +Robinson</span>.</span></p> + + +<p><a name="c2" id="c2"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER II.</h3> +<h4>THE EARLY HISTORY OF OUR MR. BROWN,<br /> +WITH SOME FEW WORDS OF MR. JONES.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>O Commerce, how wonderful are thy ways, how vast thy power, how +invisible thy dominion! Who can restrain thee and forbid thy further +progress? Kings are but as infants in thy hands, and emperors, +despotic in all else, are bound to obey thee! Thou civilizest, hast +civilized, and wilt civilize. Civilization is thy mission, and man's +welfare thine appointed charge. The nation that most warmly fosters +thee shall ever be the greatest in the earth; and without thee no +nation shall endure for a day. Thou art our Alpha and our Omega, our +beginning and our end; the marrow of our bones, the salt of our life, +the sap of our branches, the corner-stone of our temple, the rock of +our foundation. We are built on thee, and for thee, and with thee. To +worship thee should be man's chiefest care, to know thy hidden ways +his chosen study.</p> + +<p>One maxim hast thou, O Commerce, great and true and profitable above +all others;—one law which thy votaries should never transgress. "Buy +in the cheapest market and sell in the dearest." May those divine +words be ever found engraved on the hearts of Brown, Jones, and +Robinson!</p> + +<p>Of Mr. Brown, the senior member of our firm, it is expedient that +some short memoir should be given. At the time at which we signed our +articles in 185—, Mr. Brown had just retired from the butter +business. It does not appear that in his early youth he ever had the +advantage of an apprenticeship, and he seems to have been employed in +various branches of trade in the position, if one may say so, of an +out-door messenger. In this capacity he entered the service of Mr. +McCockerell, a retail butter dealer in Smithfield. When Mr. +McCockerell died our Mr. Brown married his widow, and thus found +himself elevated at once to the full-blown dignity of a tradesman. He +and his wife lived together for thirty years, and it is believed that +in the temper of his lady he found some alloy to the prosperity which +he had achieved. The widow McCockerell, in bestowing her person upon +Mr. Brown, had not intended to endow him also with entire dominion +over her shop and chattels. She loved to be supreme over her butter +tubs, and she loved also to be supreme over her till. Brown's views +on the rights of women were more in accordance with the law of the +land as laid down in the statutes. He opined that a <i>femme couverte</i> +could own no property, not even a butter tub;—and hence quarrels +arose.</p> + +<p>After thirty years of contests such as these Mr. Brown found himself +victorious, made so not by the power of arguments, nor by that of his +own right arm, but by the demise of Mrs. Brown. That amiable lady +died, leaving two daughters to lament their loss, and a series of +family quarrels, by which she did whatever lay in her power to +embarrass her husband, but by which she could not prevent him from +becoming absolute owner of the butter business, and of the stock in +trade.</p> + +<p>The two young ladies had not been brought up to the ways of the +counter; and as Mr. Brown was not himself especially expert at that +particular business in which his money was embarked, he prudently +thought it expedient to dispose of the shop and goodwill. This he did +to advantage; and thus at the age of fifty-five he found himself +again on the world with 4,000<i>l</i>. in his pocket.</p> + +<p>At this period one of his daughters was no longer under his own +charge. Sarah Jane, the eldest of the two, was already Mrs. Jones. +She had been captivated by the black hair and silk waistcoat of Mr. +Jones, and had gone off with him in opposition to the wishes of both +parents. This, she was aware, was not matter of much moment, for the +opposition of one was sure to bring about a reconciliation with the +other. And such was soon the case. Mrs. Brown would not see her +daughter, or allow Jones to put his foot inside the butter-shop. Mr. +Brown consequently took lodgings for them in the neighbourhood, and +hence a close alliance sprung up between the future partners.</p> + +<p>At this crisis Maryanne devoted herself to her mother. It was +admitted by all who knew her that Maryanne Brown had charms. At that +time she was about twenty-four years of age, and was certainly a fine +young woman. She was, like her mother, a little too much inclined to +corpulence, and there may be those who would not allow that her hair +was auburn. Mr. Robinson, however, who was then devotedly attached to +her, was of that opinion, and was ready to maintain his views against +any man who would dare to say that it was red.</p> + +<p>There was a dash about Maryanne Brown at that period which endeared +her greatly to Mr. Robinson. She was quite above anything mean, and +when her papa was left a widower in possession of four thousand +pounds, she was one of those who were most anxious to induce him to +go to work with spirit in a new business. She was all for +advertising; that must be confessed of her, though her subsequent +conduct was not all that it should have been. Maryanne Brown, when +tried in the furnace, did not come out pure gold; but this, at any +rate, shall be confessed in her behalf, that she had a dash about +her, and understood more of the tricks of trade than any other of her +family.</p> + +<p>Mrs. McCockerell died about six months after her eldest daughter's +marriage. She was generally called Mrs. McCockerell in the +neighbourhood of Smithfield, though so many years had passed since +she had lost her right to that name. Indeed, she generally preferred +being so styled, as Mr. Brown was peculiarly averse to it. The name +was wormwood to him, and this was quite sufficient to give it melody +in her ears.</p> + +<p>The good lady died about six months after her daughter's marriage. +She was struck with apoplexy, and at that time had not been +reconciled to her married daughter. Sarah Jane, nevertheless, when +she heard what had occurred, came over to Smithfield. Her husband was +then in employment as shopman at the large haberdashery house on Snow +Hill, and lived with his wife in lodgings in Cowcross Street. They +were supported nearly entirely by Mr. Brown, and therefore owed to +him at this crisis not only obedience, but dutiful affection.</p> + +<p>When, however, Sarah Jane first heard of her mother's illness, she +seemed to think that she couldn't quarrel with her father fast +enough. Jones had an idea that the old lady's money must go to her +daughters, that she had the power of putting it altogether out of the +hands of her husband, and that having the power she would certainly +exercise it. On this speculation he had married; and as he and his +wife fully concurred in their financial views, it was considered +expedient by them to lose no time in asserting their right. This they +did as soon as the breath was out of the old lady's body.</p> + +<p>Jones had married Sarah Jane solely with this view; and, indeed, it +was highly improbable that he should have done so on any other +consideration. Sarah Jane was certainly not a handsome girl. Her neck +was scraggy, her arms lean, and her lips thin; and she resembled +neither her father nor her mother. Her light brown, sandy hair, which +always looked as though it were too thin and too short to adapt +itself to any feminine usage, was also not of her family; but her +disposition was a compound of the paternal and maternal qualities. +She had all her father's painful hesitating timidity, and with it all +her mother's grasping spirit. If there ever was an eye that looked +sharp after the pence, that could weigh the ounces of a servant's +meal at a glance, and foresee and prevent the expenditure of a +farthing, it was the eye of Sarah Jane Brown. They say that it is as +easy to save a fortune as to make one; and in this way, if in no +other, Jones may be said to have got a fortune with his wife.</p> + +<p>As soon as the breath was out of Mrs. McCockerell's body, Sarah Jane +was there, taking inventory of the stock. At that moment poor Mr. +Brown was very much to be pitied. He was a man of feeling, and even +if his heart was not touched by his late loss, he knew what was due +to decency. It behoved him now as a widower to forget the deceased +lady's faults, and to put her under the ground with solemnity. This +was done with the strictest propriety; and although he must, of +course, have been thinking a good deal at that time as to whether he +was to be a beggar or a rich man, nevertheless he conducted himself +till after the funeral as though he hadn't a care on his mind, except +the loss of Mrs. B.</p> + +<p>Maryanne was as much on the alert as her sister. She had been for the +last six months her mother's pet, as Sarah Jane had been her father's +darling. There was some excuse, therefore, for Maryanne when she +endeavoured to get what she could in the scramble. Sarah Jane played +the part of Goneril to the life, and would have denied her father the +barest necessaries of existence, had it not ultimately turned out +that the property was his own.</p> + +<p>Maryanne was not well pleased to see her sister returning to the +house at such a moment. She, at least, had been dutiful to her +mother, or, if undutiful, not openly so. If Mrs. McCockerell had the +power of leaving her property to whom she pleased, it would be only +natural that she should leave it to the daughter who had obeyed her, +and not to the daughter who had added to personal disobedience the +worse fault of having been on friendly terms with her father.</p> + +<p>This, one would have thought, would have been clear at any rate to +Jones, if not to Sarah Jane; but they both seemed at this time to +have imagined that the eldest child had some right to the inheritance +as being the eldest. It will be observed by this and by many other +traits in his character that Mr. Jones had never enjoyed the +advantages of an education.</p> + +<p>Mrs. McCockerell never spoke after the fit first struck her. She +never moved an eye, or stirred a limb, or uttered a word. It was a +wretched household at that time. The good lady died on a Wednesday, +and was gathered to her fathers at Kensal Green Cemetery on the +Tuesday following. During the intervening days Mr. Jones and Sarah +Jane took on themselves as though they were owners of everything. +Maryanne did try to prevent the inventory, not wishing it to appear +that Mrs. Jones had any right to meddle; but the task was too +congenial to Sarah Jane's spirit to allow of her giving it over. She +revelled in the work. It was a delight to her to search out hidden +stores of useless wealth,—to bring forth to the light forgotten +hoards of cups and saucers, and to catalogue every rag on the +premises.</p> + +<p>The house at this time was not a pleasant one. Mr. Brown, finding +that Jones, in whom he had trusted, had turned against him, put +himself very much into the hands of a young friend of his, named +George Robinson. Who and what George Robinson was will be told in the +next chapter.</p> + +<p>"There are three questions," said Robinson, "to be asked and +answered.—Had Mrs. B. the power to make a will? If so, did she make +a will? And if so, what was the will she made?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Brown couldn't remember whether or no there had been any signing +of papers at his marriage. A good deal of rum and water, he said, had +been drunk; and there might have been signing too,—but he didn't +remember it.</p> + +<p>Then there was the search for the will. This was supposed to be in +the hands of one Brisket, a butcher, for whom it was known Mrs. +McCockerell had destined the hand of her younger daughter. Mr. +Brisket had been a great favourite with the old lady, and she had +often been heard to declare that he should have the wife and money, +or the money without the wife. This she said to coerce Maryanne into +the match.</p> + +<p>But Brisket, when questioned, declared that he had no will in his +possession. At this time he kept aloof from the house and showed no +disposition to meddle with the affairs of the family. Indeed, all +through these trying days he behaved honestly, if not with high +feeling. In recounting the doings of Brown, Jones, and Robinson, it +will sometimes be necessary to refer to Mr. Brisket. He shall always +be spoken of as an honest man. He did all that in him lay to mar the +bright hopes of one who was perhaps not the most insignificant of +that firm. He destroyed the matrimonial hopes of Mr. Robinson, and +left him to wither like a blighted trunk on a lone waste. But he was, +nevertheless, an honest man, and so much shall be said of him. Let us +never forget that "An honest man is the noblest work of God."</p> + +<p>Brisket, when asked, said that he had no will, and that he knew of +none. In fact there was no will forthcoming, and there is no doubt +that the old woman was cut off before she had made one. It may also +be premised that had she made one it would have been invalid, seeing +that Mr. Brown, as husband, was, in fact, the owner of the whole +affair.</p> + +<p>Sarah Jane and Maryanne, when they found that no document was +forthcoming, immediately gave out that they intended to take on +themselves the duties of joint heiresses, and an alliance, offensive +and defensive, was sworn between them. At this time Mr. Brown +employed a lawyer, and the heiresses, together with Jones, employed +another. There could be no possible doubt as to Mr. Brown being the +owner of the property, however infatuated on such a subject Jones and +his wife may have been. No lawyer in London could have thought that +the young women had a leg to stand upon. Nevertheless, the case was +undertaken, and Brown found himself in the middle of a lawsuit. Sarah +Jane and Maryanne both remained in the house in Smithfield to guard +the property on their own behalf. Mr. Brown also remained to guard it +on his behalf. The business for a time was closed. This was done in +opposition both to Mr. Brown and Maryanne; but Mrs. Jones could not +bring herself to permit the purchase of a firkin of butter, unless +the transaction could be made absolutely under her own eyes; and, +even then, she would insist on superintending the retail herself and +selling every pound, short weight. It was the custom of the trade, +she said; and to depart from it would ruin them.</p> + +<p>Things were in this condition, going from bad to worse, when Jones +came over one evening, and begged an interview with Mr. Brown. That +interview was the commencement of the partnership. From such small +matters do great events arise.</p> + +<p>At that interview Mr. Robinson was present. Mr. Brown indeed declared +that he would have no conversation with Jones on business affairs, +unless in the presence of a third party. Jones represented that if +they went on as they were now doing, the property would soon be +swallowed up by the lawyers. To this Mr. Brown, whose forte was not +eloquence, tacitly assented with a deep groan.</p> + +<p>"Then," said Jones, "let us divide it into three portions. You shall +have one; Sarah Jane a second; and I will manage the third on behalf +of my sister-in-law, Maryanne. If we arrange it well, the lawyers +will never get a shilling."</p> + +<p>The idea of a compromise appeared to Mr. Brown to be not +uncommendable; but a compromise on such terms as those could not of +course be listened to. Robinson strongly counselled him to nail his +colours to the mast, and kick Mr. Jones downstairs. But Mr. Brown had +not spirit for this.</p> + +<p>"One's children is one's children," said he to Robinson, when they +went apart into the shop to talk the matter over. "The fruit of one's +loins, and the prop of one's age."</p> + +<p>Robinson could not help thinking that Sarah Jane was about as bad a +prop as any that ever a man leant on; but he was too generous to say +so. The matter was ended at last by a compromise. "Go on with the +business together," said Robinson; "Mr. Brown keeping, of course, a +preponderating share in his own hands."</p> + +<p>"I don't like butter," said Jones. "Nothing great can be done in +butter."</p> + +<p>"It is a very safe line," said Mr. Brown, "if the connection is +good."</p> + +<p>"The connection must have been a good deal damaged," said Robinson, +"seeing that the shop has been closed for a fortnight. Besides, it's +a woman's business;—and you have no woman to manage it," added he, +fearing that Mrs. Jones might be brought in, to the detriment of all +concerned.</p> + +<p>Jones suggested haberdashery; Robinson, guided by a strong idea that +there is a more absolute opening for the advertising line in +haberdashery than in any other business, assented.</p> + +<p>"Then let it be haberdashery," said Mr. Brown, with a sigh. And so +that was settled.</p> + + +<p><a name="c3" id="c3"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER III.</h3> +<h4>THE EARLY HISTORY OF MR. ROBINSON.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>And haberdashery it was. But here it may be as well to say a few +words as to Mr. Robinson, and to explain how he became a member of +the firm. He had been in his boyhood,—a bill-sticker; and he defies +the commercial world to show that he ever denied it. In his earlier +days he carried the paste and pole, and earned a livelihood by +putting up notices of theatrical announcements on the hoardings of +the metropolis. There was, however, that within him which Nature did +not intend to throw away on the sticking of bills, as was found out +quickly enough by those who employed him. The lad, while he was +running the streets with his pole in his hand, and his pot round his +neck, learned first to read, and then to write what others might +read. From studying the bills which he carried, he soon took to +original composition; and it may be said of him, that in fluency of +language and richness of imagery few surpassed him. In person Mr. +Robinson was a genteel young man, though it cannot be said of him +that he possessed manly beauty. He was slight and active, intelligent +in his physiognomy, and polite in his demeanour. Perhaps it may be +unnecessary to say anything further on this head.</p> + +<p>Mr. Robinson had already established himself as an author in his own +line, and was supporting himself decently by his own unaided +abilities, when he first met Maryanne Brown in the Regent's Park. She +was then walking with her sister, and resolutely persisted in +disregarding all those tokens of admiration which he found himself +unable to restrain.</p> + +<p>There certainly was a dash about Maryanne Brown that at certain +moments was invincible. Hooped petticoats on the back of her sister +looked like hoops, and awkward hoops. They were angular, lopsided, +and lumpy. But Maryanne wore her hoops as a duchess wears her +crinoline. Her well-starched muslin dress would swell off from her +waist in a manner that was irresistible to George Robinson. "Such +grouping!" as he said to his friend Walker. "Such a flow of drapery! +such tournure! Ah, my dear fellow, the artist's eye sees these things +at a glance." And then, walking at a safe distance, he kept his eyes +on them.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure that fellow's following us," said Sarah Jane, looking back +at him with all her scorn.</p> + +<p>"There's no law against that, I suppose," said Maryanne, tartly. So +much as that Mr. Robinson did succeed in hearing.</p> + +<p>The girls entered their mother's house; but as they did so, Maryanne +lingered for a moment in the doorway. Was it accident, or was it not? +Did the fair girl choose to give her admirer one chance, or was it +that she was careful not to crush her starch by too rapid an entry?</p> + +<p>"I shall be in Regent's Park on Sunday afternoon," whispered +Robinson, as he passed by the house, with his hand to his mouth. It +need hardly be said that the lady vouchsafed him no reply.</p> + +<p>On the following Sunday George Robinson was again in the park, and +after wandering among its rural shades for half a day, he was +rewarded by seeing the goddess of his idolatry. Miss Brown was there +with a companion, but not with Sarah Jane. He had already, as though +by instinct, conceived in his heart as powerful an aversion for one +sister as affection for the other, and his delight was therefore +unbounded when he saw that she he loved was there, while she he hated +was away.</p> + +<p>'Twere long to tell, at the commencement of this narrative, how a +courtship was commenced and carried on; how Robinson sighed, at first +in vain and then not in vain; how good-natured was Miss Twizzle, the +bosom friend of Maryanne; and how Robinson for a time walked and +slept and fed on roses.</p> + +<p>There was at that time a music class held at a certain elegant room +near Osnaburgh Church in the New Road, at which Maryanne and her +friend Miss Twizzle were accustomed to attend. Those lessons were +sometimes prosecuted in the evening, and those evening studies +sometimes resulted in a little dance. We may say that after a while +that was their habitual tendency, and that the lady pupils were +permitted to introduce their male friends on condition that the +gentlemen paid a shilling each for the privilege. It was in that room +that George Robinson passed the happiest hours of his chequered +existence. He was soon expert in all the figures of the mazy dance, +and was excelled by no one in the agility of his step or the +endurance of his performances. It was by degrees rumoured about that +he was something higher than he seemed to be, and those best +accustomed to the place used to call him the Poet. It must be +remembered that at this time Mrs. McCockerell was still alive, and +that as Sarah Jane had then become Mrs. Jones, Maryanne was her +mother's favourite, and destined to receive all her mother's gifts. +Of the name and person of William Brisket, George Robinson was then +in happy ignorance, and the first introduction between them took +place in the Hall of Harmony.</p> + +<p>'Twas about eleven o'clock in the evening, when the light feet of the +happy dancers had already been active for some hour or so in the +worship of their favourite muse, that Robinson was standing up with +his arm round his fair one's waist, immediately opposite to the door +of entrance. His right arm still embraced her slight girdle, whilst +with his left hand he wiped the perspiration from his brow. She +leaned against him palpitating, for the motion of the music had been +quick, and there had been some amicable contest among the couples. It +is needless to say that George Robinson and Maryanne Brown had +suffered no defeat. At that moment a refreshing breeze of the night +air was wafted into the room from the opened door, and Robinson, +looking up, saw before him a sturdy, thickset man, with mottled beefy +face, and by his side there stood a spectre. "It's your sister," +whispered he to Maryanne, in a tone of horror.</p> + +<p>"Oh, laws! there's Bill," said she, and then she fainted. The +gentleman with the mottled face was indeed no other than Mr. Brisket, +the purveyor of meat, for whose arms Mrs. McCockerell had destined +the charms of her younger daughter. Conduct baser than that of Mrs. +Jones on this occasion is not perhaps recorded in history. She was no +friend of Brisket's. She had it not at heart to forward her mother's +views. At this period of their lives she and her mother never met. +But she had learned her sister's secret, and having it in her power +to crush her sister's happiness, had availed herself of the +opportunity.</p> + +<p>"There he is," said she, quite aloud, so that the whole room should +hear. "He's a bill-sticker!" and she pointed the finger of scorn at +her sister's lover.</p> + +<p>"I'm one who have always earned my own living," said Robinson, "and +never had occasion to hang on to any one." This he said knowing that +Jones's lodgings were paid for by Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>Hereupon Mr. Brisket walked across the room, and as he walked there +was a cloud of anger on his brow. "Perhaps, young man," he said,—and +as he spoke he touched Robinson on the shoulder,—"perhaps, young +man, you wouldn't mind having a few words with me outside the door."</p> + +<p>"Sir," said the other with some solemnity, "I am not aware that I +have the honour of your acquaintance."</p> + +<p>"I'm William Brisket, butcher," said he; "and if you don't come out +when I asks you, by jingo, I'll carry you."</p> + +<p>The lady had fainted. The crowd of dancers was standing round, with +inquiring faces. That female spectre repeated the odious words, still +pointing at him with her finger, "He's a bill-sticker!" Brisket was +full fourteen stone, whereas Robinson might perhaps be ten. What was +Robinson to do? "Are you going to walk out, or am I going to carry +you?" said the Hercules of the slaughter-house.</p> + +<p>"I will do anything," said Robinson, "to relieve a lady's +embarrassment."</p> + +<p>They walked out on to the landing-place, whither not a few of the +gentlemen and some of the ladies followed them.</p> + +<p>"I say, young man," said Brisket, "do you know who that young woman +is?"</p> + +<p>"I certainly have the honour of her acquaintance," said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"But perhaps you haven't the honour of knowing that she's my +wife,—as is to be. Now you know it." And then the coarse monster +eyed him from head to foot. "Now you may go home to your mother," +said he. "But don't tell her anything of it, because it's a secret."</p> + +<p>He was fifteen stone at least, and Robinson was hardly ten. Oh, how +vile is the mastery which matter still has over mind in many of the +concerns of life! How can a man withstand the assault of a bull? What +was Robinson to do? He walked downstairs into the street, leaving +Maryanne behind with the butcher.</p> + +<p>Some days after this he contrived a meeting with his love, and he +then learned the history of that engagement. "She hated Brisket," she +said. "He was odious to her. He was always greasy and smelt of +meat;—but he had a respectable business."</p> + +<p>"And is my Maryanne mercenary?" asked Robinson.</p> + +<p>"Now, George," said she, "it's no use you scolding me, and I won't be +scolded. Ma says that I must be civil to him, and I'm not going to +quarrel with ma. At any rate not yet."</p> + +<p>"But surely, Maryanne—"</p> + +<p>"It's no good you surelying me, George, for I won't be surelyed. If +you don't like me you can leave me."</p> + +<p>"Maryanne, I adore you."</p> + +<p>"That's all very well, and I hope you do; but why did you make a row +with that man the other night?"</p> + +<p>"But, dearest love, he made the row with me."</p> + +<p>"And when you did make it," continued Maryanne, "why didn't you see +it out?" Robinson did not find it easy to answer this accusation. +That matter has still dominion over mind, though the days are coming +when mind shall have dominion over matter, was a lesson which, in +after days, it would be sweet to teach her. But at the present moment +the time did not serve for such teaching. "A man must look after his +own, George, or else he'll go to the wall," she said, with a sneer. +And then he parted from her in anger.</p> + +<p>But his love did not on that account wax cool, and so in his misery +he had recourse to their mutual friend, Miss Twizzle. "The truth is +this," said Miss Twizzle, "I believe she'd take him, because he's +respectable and got a business."</p> + +<p>"He's horribly vulgar," said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"Oh, bother!" said Miss Twizzle. "I know nothing about that. He's got +a business, and whoever marries Brisket won't have to look for a bed +to sleep on. But there's a hitch about the money."</p> + +<p>Then Mr. Robinson learned the facts. Mrs. McCockerell, as she was +still called, had promised to give her daughter five hundred pounds +as her marriage portion, but Mr. Brisket would not go to the altar +till he got the money. "He wanted to extend himself," he said, "and +would not marry till he saw his way." Hence had arisen that delay +which Maryanne had solaced by her attendance at the music-hall.</p> + +<p>"But if you're in earnest," said Miss Twizzle, "don't you be down on +your luck. Go to old Brown, and make friends with him. He'll stand up +for you, because he knows his wife favours Brisket."</p> + +<p>George Robinson did go to Mr. Brown, and on the father the young +man's eloquence was not thrown away. "She shall be yours, Mr. +Robinson," he said, after the first fortnight. "But we must be very +careful with Mrs. B."</p> + +<p>After the second fortnight Mrs. B. was no more! And in this way it +came to pass that George Robinson was present as Mr. Brown's adviser +when that scheme respecting the haberdashery was first set on foot.</p> + + +<p><a name="c4" id="c4"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER IV.</h3> +<h4>NINE TIMES NINE IS EIGHTY-ONE. SHOWING HOW BROWN, JONES,<br /> +AND ROBINSON SELECTED THEIR HOUSE OF BUSINESS.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>And haberdashery it was. But there was much yet to be done before any +terms for a partnership could be settled. Mr. Jones at first insisted +that he and his father-in-law should begin business on equal terms. +He considered that any questions as to the actual right in the +property would be mean after their mutual agreement to start in the +world as friends. But to this Mr. Brown, not unnaturally, objected.</p> + +<p>"Then I shall go back to my lawyer," said Jones. Whereupon he did +leave the room, taking his hat with him; but he remained below in the +old shop.</p> + +<p>"If I am to go into partnership with that man alone," said Mr. Brown, +turning to his young friend almost in despair, "I may prepare for the +Gazette at once.—And for my grave!" he added, solemnly.</p> + +<p>"I'll join you," said Robinson. "I haven't got any money. You know +that. But then neither has he."</p> + +<p>"I wish you had a little," said Mr. Brown. "Capital is capital, you +know."</p> + +<p>"But I've got that which is better than capital," said Robinson, +touching his forehead with his forefinger. "And if you'll trust me, +Mr. Brown, I won't see you put upon." The promise which Mr. Robinson +then gave he kept ever afterwards with a marked fidelity.</p> + +<p>"I will trust you," said Mr. Brown. "It shall be Brown, Jones, and +Robinson."</p> + +<p>"And Brown, Jones, and Robinson shall carry their heads high among +the greatest commercial firms of this wealthy metropolis," said +Robinson, with an enthusiasm which was surely pardonable at such a +moment.</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones soon returned with another compromise; but it was of a low, +peddling nature. It had reference to sevenths and eighths, and went +into the payments of the household bills. "I, as one of the partners, +must object to any such arrangements," said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"You!—you one of the partners!" said Jones.</p> + +<p>"If you have no objection—certainly!" said Robinson. "And if you +should have any objection,—equally so."</p> + +<p>"You!—a bill-sticker!" said Jones.</p> + +<p>In the presence of William Brisket, George Robinson had been forced +to acknowledge that matter must still occasionally prevail over mind; +but he felt no such necessity in the presence of Jones. "I'll tell +you what it is," said Robinson; "I've never denied my former calling. +Among friends I often talk about it. But mind you, Mr. Jones, I won't +bear it from you! I'm not very big myself, but I think I could stand +up before you!"</p> + +<p>But in this quarrel they were stopped by Mr. Brown. "Let dogs +delight," he said or sung, "to bark and +<span class="nowrap">bite;—"</span> and then he raised +his two fat hands feebly, as though deprecating any further wrath. As +usual on such occasions Mr. Robinson yielded, and then explained in +very concise language the terms on which it was proposed that the +partnership should be opened. Mr. Brown should put his "capital" into +the business, and be entitled to half the profits. Mr. Jones and Mr. +Robinson should give the firm the advantage of their youth, energies, +and genius, and should each be held as the possessor of a quarter. +That Mr. Jones made long and fierce objections to this, need hardly +be stated. It is believed that he did, more than once, go back to his +lawyer. But Mr. Brown, who, for the time, put himself into the hands +of his youngest partner, remained firm, and at last the preliminaries +were settled.</p> + +<p>The name of the house, the nature of the business, and the shares of +the partners were now settled, and the site of the future labours of +the firm became the next question. Mr. Brown was in favour of a small +tenement in Little Britain, near to the entrance into Smithfield.</p> + +<p>"There would not be scope there," said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"And no fashion," said Jones.</p> + +<p>"It's safe and respectable," pleaded Mr. Brown. "There have been +shops in Little Britain these sixty years in the same families."</p> + +<p>But Robinson was of opinion that the fortunes of the firm might not +improbably be made in six, if only they would commence with +sufficient distinction. He had ascertained that large and commanding +premises might be had in St. Paul's Churchyard, in the frontage of +which the square feet of plate glass could be counted by the hundred. +It was true that the shop was nearly all window; but then, as Mr. +Robinson said, an extended front of glass was the one thing +necessary. And it was true also that the future tenants must pay down +a thousand pounds before they entered;—but then, as he explained, +how could they better expend the trifle of money which they +possessed?</p> + +<p>"Trifle of money!" said Mr. Brown, thinking of the mountains of +butter and years of economy which had been required to put together +those four thousand pounds;—thinking also, perhaps, of the absolute +impecuniosity of his young partner who thus spoke.</p> + +<p>Jones was for the West End and Regent Street. There was a shop only +two doors off Regent Street, which could be made to look as if it was +almost in Regent Street. The extension of a side piece of plate glass +would show quite into Regent Street. He even prepared a card, +describing the house as "2 doors from Regent Street," printing the +figure and the words "Regent Street" very large, and the intermediate +description very small. It was ever by such stale, inefficient +artifices as these that he sought success.</p> + +<p>"Who'll care for your card?" said Robinson. "When a man's card comes +to be of use to him, the thing's done. He's living in his villa by +that time, and has his five thousand a-year out of the profits."</p> + +<p>"I hope you'll both have your willas before long," said Brown, trying +to keep his partners in good humour. "But a cottage <i>horney</i> will be +enough for me. I'd like to be able to give my children their bit of +dinner on Sunday hot and comfortable. I want no more than that."</p> + +<p>That was a hard battle, and it resulted in no victory. The dingy shop +in Little Britain was, of course, out of the question; and Mr. Brown +assisted Robinson in preventing that insane attempt at aping the +unprofitable glories of Regent Street. The matter ended in another +compromise, and a house was taken in Bishopsgate Street, of which the +frontage was extensive and commanding, but as to which it must +certainly be confessed that the back part of the premises was +inconveniently confined.</p> + +<p>"It isn't exactly all I could wish," said Robinson, standing on the +pavement as he surveyed it. "But it will do. With a little +originality and some dash, we'll make it do. We must give it a name."</p> + +<p>"A name?" said Mr. Brown; "it's 81, Bishopsgate Street; ain't it? +They don't call houses names in London."</p> + +<p>"That's just why we'll have a name for ours, Mr. Brown."</p> + +<p>"The 'Albert Emporium,'" suggested Jones; "or 'Victoria Mart.'"</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones, as will be seen, was given to tuft-hunting to the +backbone. His great ambition was to have a lion and unicorn, and to +call himself haberdasher to a royal prince. He had never realized the +fact that profit, like power, comes from the people, and not from the +court. "I wouldn't put up the Queen's arms if the Queen came and +asked me," Robinson once said in answer to him. "That game has been +played out, and it isn't worth the cost of the two wooden figures."</p> + +<p>"'The Temple of Fashion' would do very well," said Jones.</p> + +<p>"The Temple of Fiddlestick!" said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"Of course you say so," said Jones.</p> + +<p>"Let dogs delight—" began Mr. Brown, standing as we were in the +middle of the street.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what," said Robinson; "there's nothing like colour. +We'll call it Magenta House, and we'll paint it magenta from the roof +to the window tops."</p> + +<p>This beautiful tint had only then been invented, and it was necessary +to explain the word to Mr. Brown. He merely remarked that the oil and +paint would come to a deal of money, and then gave way. Jones was +struck dumb by the brilliancy of the idea, and for once forgot to +object.</p> + +<p>"And, I'll tell you what," said Robinson—"nine times nine is +eighty-one."</p> + +<p>"Certainly, certainly," said Mr. Brown, who delighted to agree with +his younger partner when circumstances admitted it. "You are right +there, certainly." Jones was observed to go through the +multiplication table mentally, but he could detect no error.</p> + +<p>"Nine times nine is eighty-one," repeated Robinson with confidence, +"and we'll put that fact up over the first-floor windows."</p> + +<p>And so they did. The house was painted magenta colour from top to +bottom. And on the front in very large figures and letters, was +stated the undoubted fact that nine times nine is 81. "If they will +only call us 'The nine times nine,' the thing is done," said +Robinson. Nevertheless, the house was christened Magenta House. "And +now about glass," said Robinson, when the three had retired to the +little back room within.</p> + +<p>Mr. Robinson, however, admitted afterwards that he was wrong about +the colour and the number. Such methods of obtaining attention were, +he said, too easy of imitation, and devoid of any inherent attraction +of their own. People would not care for nine times nine in +Bishopsgate Street, if there were nine times nines in other streets +as well. "No," said he; "I was but beginning, and made errors as +beginners do. Outside there should be glass, gas, gold, and glare. +Inside there should be the same, with plenty of brass, and if +possible a little wit. If those won't do it, nothing will." All the +same the magenta colour and the nine times nine did have their +effect. "Nine times nine is eighty-one," was printed on the top of +all the flying advertisements issued by the firm, and the printing +was all done in magenta.</p> + +<p>Mr. Brown groaned sorely over the expenditure that was necessary in +preparation of the premises. His wish was that this should be paid +for in ready money; and indeed it was necessary that this should be +done to a certain extent. But the great object should have been to +retain every available shilling for advertisements. In the way of +absolute capital,—money to be paid for stock,—4,000<i>l.</i> was +nothing. But 4,000<i>l.</i> scattered broadcast through the metropolis on +walls, omnibuses, railway stations, little books, pavement chalkings, +illuminated notices, porters' backs, gilded cars, and men in armour, +would have driven nine times nine into the memory of half the +inhabitants of London. The men in armour were tried. Four suits were +obtained in Poland Street, and four strong men were hired who rode +about town all day on four brewers' horses. They carried poles with +large banners, and on the banners were inscribed the words which +formed the shibboleth of the +<span class="nowrap">firm;—</span><br /> </p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table style="margin: 0 auto" cellpadding="6"> + <tr> + <td align="left"> + <p class="noindent"><span class="large"><i>MAGENTA HOUSE</i>,</span></p> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="left"> + <p class="noindent"><span class="ind4">9 TIMES 9 IS 81,</span></p> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="left"> + <p class="noindent"><span class="ind8"><span class="nonser"><b>BISHOPSGATE + STREET.</b></span></span><br /> </p> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + + +<p>And four times a day these four men in armour met each other in front +of the windows of the house, and stood there on horseback for fifteen +minutes, with their backs to the curbstone. The forage, however, of +the horses became so terribly large an item of expenditure that Mr. +Brown's heart failed him. His heart failed him, and he himself went +off late one evening to the livery stable-keeper who supplied the +horses, and in Mr. Robinson's absence, the armour was sent back to +Poland Street.</p> + +<p>"We should have had the police down upon us, George," said Mr. Brown, +deprecating the anger of his younger partner.</p> + +<p>"And what better advertisement could you have wished?" said Robinson. +"It would have been in all the papers, and have cost nothing."</p> + +<p>"But you don't know, George, what them beastesses was eating! It was +frightful to hear of! Four-and-twenty pounds of corn a day each of +'em, because the armour was so uncommon heavy." The men in armour +were then given up, but they certainly were beginning to be +effective. At 6 <span class="smallcaps">p.m.</span>, +when the men were there, it had become +impossible to pass the shop without going into the middle of the +street, and on one or two occasions the policemen had spoken to Mr. +Brown. Then there was a slight accident with a child, and the +newspapers had interfered.</p> + +<p>But we are anticipating the story, for the men in armour did not +begin their operations till the shop had been opened.</p> + +<p>"And now about glass," said Robinson, as soon as the three partners +had retired from the outside flags into the interior of the house.</p> + +<p>"It must be plate, of course," said Jones. Plate! He might as well +have said when wanting a house, that it must have walls.</p> + +<p>"I rather think so," said Robinson; "and a good deal of it."</p> + +<p>"I don't mind a good-sized common window," said Brown.</p> + +<p>"A deal better have them uncommon," said Robinson, interrupting him. +"And remember, sir, there's nothing like glass in these days. It has +superseded leather altogether in that respect."</p> + +<p>"Leather!" said Mr. Brown, who was hardly quick enough for his junior +partner.</p> + +<p>"Of all our materials now in general use," said Robinson, "glass is +the most brilliant, and yet the cheapest; the most graceful and yet +the strongest. Though transparent it is impervious to wet. The eye +travels through it, but not the hailstorm. To the power of gas it +affords no obstacle, but is as efficient a barrier against the +casualties of the street as an iron shutter. To that which is +ordinary it lends a grace; and to that which is graceful it gives a +double lustre. Like a good advertisement, it multiplies your stock +tenfold, and like a good servant, it is always eloquent in praise of +its owner. I look upon plate glass, sir, as the most glorious product +of the age; and I regard the tradesman who can surround himself with +the greatest quantity of it, as the most in advance of the tradesmen +of his day. Oh, sir, whatever we do, let us have glass."</p> + +<p>"It's beautiful to hear him talk," said Mr. Brown; "but it's the bill +I'm a thinking of."</p> + +<p>"If you will only go enough ahead, Mr. Brown, you'll find that nobody +will trouble you with such bills."</p> + +<p>"But they must be paid some day, George."</p> + +<p>"Of course they must; but it will never do to think of that now. In +twelve months or so, when we have set the house well going, the +payment of such bills as that will be a mere nothing,—a thing that +will be passed as an item not worth notice. Faint heart never won +fair lady, you know, Mr. Brown." And then a cloud came across George +Robinson's brow as he thought of the words he had spoken; for his +heart had once been faint, and his fair lady was by no means won.</p> + +<p>"That's quite true," said Jones; "it never does. Ha! ha! ha!"</p> + +<p>Then the cloud went away from George Robinson's brow, and a stern +frown of settled resolution took its place. At that moment he made up +his mind, that when he might again meet that giant butcher he would +forget the difference in their size, and accost him as though they +two were equal. What though some fell blow, levelled as at an ox, +should lay him low for ever. Better that, than endure from day to day +the unanswered taunts of such a one as Jones!</p> + +<p>Mr. Brown, though he was not quick-witted, was not deficient when the +feelings of man and man were concerned. He understood it all, and +taking advantage of a moment when Jones had stepped up the shop, he +pressed Robinson's hand and said,—"You shall have her, George. If a +father's word is worth anything, you shall have her." But in this +case,—as in so many others,—a father's word was not worth anything.</p> + +<p>"But to business!" said Robinson, shaking off from him all thoughts +of love.</p> + +<p>After that Mr. Brown had not the heart to oppose him respecting the +glass, and in that matter he had everything nearly his own way. The +premises stood advantageously at the comer of a little alley, so that +the window was made to jut out sideways in that direction, and a full +foot and a half was gained. On the other side the house did not stand +flush with its neighbour,—as is not unfrequently the case in +Bishopsgate Street,—and here also a few inches were made available. +The next neighbour, a quiet old man who sold sticks, threatened a +lawsuit; but that, had it been instituted, would have got into the +newspapers and been an advertisement. There was considerable trouble +about the entrance. A wide, commanding centre doorway was essential; +but this, if made in the desirable proportions, would have terribly +crippled the side windows. To obviate this difficulty, the exterior +space allotted for the entrance between the frontage of the two +windows was broad and noble, but the glass splayed inwards towards +the shop, so that the absolute door was decidedly narrow.</p> + +<p>"When we come to have a crowd, they won't get in and out," said +Jones.</p> + +<p>"If we could only crush a few to death in the doorway our fortune +would be made," said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"God forbid!" said Mr. Brown; "God forbid! Let us have no bloodshed, +whatever we do."</p> + +<p>In about a month the house was completed, and much to the regret of +both the junior partners, a considerable sum of ready money was paid +to the tradesmen who performed the work. Mr. Jones was of opinion +that by sufficient cunning such payments might be altogether evaded. +No such thought rested for a moment in the bosom of Mr. Robinson. All +tradesmen should be paid, and paid well. But the great firm of Brown, +Jones, and Robinson would be much less likely to scrutinize the price +at which plate glass was charged to them per square foot, when they +were taking their hundreds a day over the counter, than they would be +now when every shilling was of importance to them.</p> + +<p>"For their own sake you shouldn't do it," said he to Mr. Brown. "You +may be quite sure they don't like it."</p> + +<p>"I always liked it myself," said Mr. Brown. And thus he would make +little dribbling payments, by which an unfortunate idea was generated +in the neighbourhood that money was not plentiful with the firm.</p> + + +<p><a name="c5" id="c5"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER V.</h3> +<h4>THE DIVISION OF LABOUR.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that +the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of +advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, +being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the +expectations raised by those advertisements.</p> + +<p>"But, George, we must have something to sell," said Mr. Brown, almost +in despair. He did not then understand, and never since has learned +the secrets of that commercial science which his younger partner was +at so much pains to teach. There are things which no elderly man can +learn; and there are lessons which are full of light for the new +recruit, but dark as death to the old veteran.</p> + +<p>"It will be so doubtless with me also," said Robinson, soliloquizing +on the subject in his melancholy mood. "The day will come when I too +must be pushed from my stool by the workings of younger genius, and +shall sink, as poor Mr. Brown is now sinking, into the foggy depths +of fogeydom. But a man who is a +<span class="nowrap">man—"</span> and then that melancholy mood +left him, "can surely make his fortune before that day comes. When a +merchant is known to be worth half a million, his fogeydom is +respected."</p> + +<p>That necessity of having something to sell almost overcame Mr. Brown +in those days. "What's the good of putting down 5,000 Kolinski and +Minx Boas in the bill, if we don't possess one in the shop?" he +asked; "we must have some if they're asked for." He could not +understand that for a first start effect is everything. If customers +should want Kolinski Boas, Kolinski Boas would of course be +forthcoming,—to any number required; either Kolinski Boas, or quasi +Kolinski, which in trade is admitted to be the same thing. When a man +advertises that he has 40,000 new paletots, he does not mean that he +has got that number packed up in a box. If required to do so, he will +supply them to that extent,—or to any further extent. A long row of +figures in trade is but an elegant use of the superlative. If a +tradesman can induce a lady to buy a diagonal Osnabruck cashmere +shawl by telling her that he has 1,200 of them, who is injured? And +if the shawl is not exactly a real diagonal Osnabruck cashmere, what +harm is done as long as the lady gets the value for her money? And if +she don't get the value for her money, whose fault is that? Isn't it +a fair stand-up fight? And when she tries to buy for 4<i>l.</i>, a shawl +which she thinks is worth about 8<i>l.</i>, isn't she dealing on the same +principles herself? If she be lucky enough to possess credit, the +shawl is sent home without payment, and three years afterwards fifty +per cent. is perhaps offered for settlement of the bill. It is a fair +fight, and the ladies are very well able to take care of themselves.</p> + +<p>And Jones also thought they must have something to sell. "Money is +money," said he, "and goods is goods. What's the use of windows if we +haven't anything to dress them? And what's the use of capital unless +we buy a stock?"</p> + +<p>With Mr. Jones, George Robinson never cared to argue. The absolute +impossibility of pouring the slightest ray of commercial light into +the dim chaos of that murky mind had long since come home to him. He +merely shook his head, and went on with the composition on which he +was engaged. It need hardly be explained here that he had no idea of +encountering the public throng on their opening day, without an +adequate assortment of goods. Of course there must be shawls and +cloaks; of course there must be muffs and boas; of course there must +be hose and handkerchiefs. That dressing of the windows was to be the +special care of Mr. Jones, and Robinson would take care that there +should be the wherewithal. The dressing of the windows, and the +parading of the shop, was to be the work of Jones. His ambition had +never soared above that, and while serving in the house on Snow Hill, +his utmost envy had been excited by the youthful aspirant who there +walked the boards, and with an oily courtesy handed chairs to the +ladies. For one short week he had been allowed to enter this +Paradise. "And though I looked so sweet on them," said he, "I always +had my eye on them. It's a grand thing to be down on a well-dressed +woman as she's hiding a roll of ribbon under her cloak." That was his +idea of grandeur!</p> + +<p>A stock of goods was of course necessary, but if the firm could only +get their name sufficiently established, that matter would be +arranged simply by written orders to two or three wholesale houses. +Competition, that beautiful science of the present day, by which +every plodding cart-horse is converted into a racer, makes this easy +enough. When it should once become known that a firm was opening +itself on a great scale in a good thoroughfare, and advertising on +real, intelligible principles, there would be no lack of goods.</p> + +<p>"You can have any amount of hose you want, out of Cannon Street," +said Mr. Robinson, "in forty-five minutes. They can be brought in at +the back while you are selling them over the counter."</p> + +<p>"Can they?" said Mr. Brown: "perhaps they can. But nevertheless, +George, I think I'll buy a few. It'll be an ease to my mind."</p> + +<p>He did so; but it was a suicidal act on his part. One thing was quite +clear, even to Mr. Jones. If the firm commenced business to the +extent which they contemplated, it was out of the question that they +should do everything on the ready-money principle. That such a +principle is antiquated, absurd, and uncommercial; that it is opposed +to the whole system of trade as now adopted in this metropolis, has +been clearly shown in the preface to these memoirs. But in this +instance, in the case of Brown, Jones, and Robinson, the doing so was +as impracticable as it would have been foolish, if practicable. +Credit and credit only was required. But of all modes of +extinguishing credit, of crushing, as it were, the young baby in its +cradle, there is none equal to that of spending a little ready money, +and then halting. In trade as in love, to doubt,—or rather, to seem +to doubt,—is to be lost. When you order goods, do so as though the +bank were at your back. Look your victim full in the face, and write +down your long numbers without a falter in your pen. And should there +seem a hesitation on his part, do not affect to understand it. When +the articles are secured, you give your bill at six months' date; +then your credit at your bankers,—your discount system,—commences. +That is another affair. When once your bank begins that with +you,—and the banks must do so, or they may put up their +shutters,—when once your bank has commenced, it must carry on the +game. You are floated then, placed well in the centre of the full +stream of commerce, and it must be your own fault if you do not +either retire with half a million, or become bankrupt with an éclat, +which is worth more than any capital in refitting you for a further +attempt. In the meantime it need hardly be said that you yourself are +living on the very fat of the land.</p> + +<p>But birds of a feather should flock together, and Mr. Brown and Mr. +Robinson were not exactly of the same plumage.</p> + +<p>It was finally arranged that Mr. Robinson should have carte blanche +at his own particular line of business, to the extent of fifteen +hundred pounds, and that Mr. Brown should go into the warehouse and +lay out a similar sum in goods. Both Jones and Mrs. Jones accompanied +the old man, and a sore time he had of it. It may here be remarked +that Mrs. Jones struggled very hard to get a footing in the shop, but +on this point it should be acknowledged that her husband did his duty +for a while.</p> + +<p>"It must be you or I, Sarah Jane," said he; "but not both."</p> + +<p>"I have no objection in life," said she; "you can stay at home, if +you please."</p> + +<p>"By no means," he replied. "If you come here, and your father permits +it, I shall go to America. Of course the firm will allow me for my +share." She tried it on very often after that, and gave the firm much +trouble, but I don't think she got her hand into the cash drawer +above once or twice during the first twelve months.</p> + +<p>The division of labour was finally arranged as follows. Mr. Brown was +to order the goods; to hire the young men and women, look after their +morality, and pay them their wages; to listen to any special +applications when a desire might be expressed to see the firm; and to +do the heavy respectable parental business. There was a little back +room with a sky-light, in which he was to sit; and when he was +properly got up, his manner of shaking his head at the young people +who misbehaved themselves, was not ineffective. There is always +danger when young men and women are employed together in the same +shop, and if possible this should be avoided. It is not in human +nature that they should not fall in love, or at any rate amuse +themselves with ordinary flirtations. Now the rule is that not a word +shall be spoken that does not refer to business. "Miss O'Brien, where +is the salmon-coloured sarsenet? or, Mr. Green, I'll trouble you for +the ladies' sevens." Nothing is ever spoken beyond that. "Morals, +morals, above everything!" Mr. Brown was once heard to shout from his +little room, when a whisper had been going round the shop as to a +concerted visit to the Crystal Palace. Why a visit to the Crystal +Palace should be immoral, when talked of over the counter, Mr. Brown +did not explain on that occasion.</p> + +<p>"A very nice set of young women," the compiler of these memoirs once +remarked to a commercial gentleman in a large way, who was showing +him over his business, "and for the most part very good-looking."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, yes; we attend to their morals especially. They generally +marry from us, and become the happy mothers of families."</p> + +<p>"Ah," said I, really delighted in my innocence. "They've excellent +opportunities for that, because there are so many decent young men +about."</p> + +<p>He turned on me as though I had calumniated his establishment with a +libel of the vilest description. "If a whisper of such a thing ever +reaches us, sir," said he, quite alive with virtuous indignation; "if +such a suspicion is ever engendered, we send them packing at once! +The morals of our young women, <span class="nowrap">sir—"</span> +And then he finished his +sentence simply by a shake of his head. I tried to bring him into an +argument, and endeavoured to make him understand that no young woman +can become a happy wife unless she first be allowed to have a lover. +He merely shook his head, and at last stamped his foot. "Morals, +sir!" he repeated. "Morals above everything. In such an establishment +as this, if we are not moral, we are nothing." I supposed he was +right, but it seemed to me to be very hard on the young men and +women. I could only hope that they walked home together in the +evening.</p> + +<p>In the new firm in Bishopsgate Street, Mr. Brown, of course, took +upon himself that branch of business, and some little trouble he had, +because his own son-in-law and partner would make eyes to the +customers.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Jones," he once said before them all; "you'll bring down my gray +hairs with sorrow to the grave; you will, indeed." And then he put up +his fat hand, and gently stroked the white expanse of his bald pate. +But that was a very memorable occasion.</p> + +<p>Such was Mr. Brown's business. To Mr. Jones was allocated the duty of +seeing that the shop was duly dressed, of looking after the +customers, including that special duty of guarding against +shop-lifting, and of attending generally to the retail business. It +cannot be denied that for this sort of work he had some specialties. +His eye was sharp, and his ear was keen, and his feelings were blunt. +In a certain way, he was good-looking, and he knew how to hand a +chair with a bow and smile, which went far with the wives and +daughters of the East End little tradesmen,—and he was active enough +at his work. He was usually to be seen standing in the front of the +shop, about six yards within the door, rubbing his hands together, or +arranging his locks, or twiddling with his brass watch-chain. Nothing +disconcerted him, unless his wife walked into the place; and then, to +the great delight of the young men and women, he was unable to +conceal his misery. By them he was hated,—as was perhaps necessary +in his position. He was a tyrant, who liked to feel at every moment +the relish of his power. To the poor girls he was cruel, treating +them as though they were dirt beneath his feet. For Mr. Jones, though +he affected the reputation of an admirer of the fair sex, never +forgot himself by being even civil to a female who was his paid +servant. Woman's smile had a charm for him, but no charm equal to the +servility of dependence.</p> + +<p>But on the shoulders of Mr. Robinson fell the great burden of the +business. There was a question as to the accounts; these, however, he +undertook to keep in his leisure moments, thinking but little of the +task. But the work of his life was to be the advertising department. +He was to draw up the posters; he was to write those little books +which, printed on magenta-coloured paper, were to be thrown with +reckless prodigality into every vehicle in the town; he was to +arrange new methods of alluring the public into that emporium of +fashion. It was for him to make a credulous multitude believe that at +that shop, number Nine Times Nine in Bishopsgate Street, goods of all +sorts were to be purchased at prices considerably less than the +original cost of their manufacture. This he undertook to do; this for +a time he did do; this for years to come he would have done, had he +not experienced an interference in his own department, by which the +whole firm was ultimately ruined and sent adrift.</p> + +<p>"The great thing is to get our bills into the hands of the public," +said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"You can get men for one and nine a day to stand still and hand 'em +out to the passers-by," said Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"That's stale, sir, quite stale; novelty in advertising is what we +require;—something new and startling."</p> + +<p>"Put a chimney-pot on the man's head," said Mr. Brown, "and make it +two and three."</p> + +<p>"That's been tried," said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"Then put two chimney-pots," said Mr. Brown. Beyond that his +imagination did not carry him.</p> + +<p>Chimney-pots and lanterns on men's heads avail nothing. To startle +men and women to any purpose, and drive them into Bishopsgate Street, +you must startle them a great deal. It does not suffice to create a +momentary wonder. Mr. Robinson, therefore, began with eight footmen +in full livery, with powdered hair and gold tags to their shoulders. +They had magenta-coloured plush knee-breeches, and magenta-coloured +silk stockings. It was in May, and the weather was fine, and these +eight excellently got-up London footmen were stationed at different +points in the city, each with a silken bag suspended round his +shoulder by a silken cord. From these bags they drew forth the +advertising cards of the house, and presented them to such of the +passers-by as appeared from their dress and physiognomy to be +available for the purpose. The fact has now been ascertained that men +and women who have money to spend will not put out their hands to +accept common bills from street advertisers. In an ordinary way the +money so spent is thrown away. But from these men, arrayed in +gorgeous livery, a duchess would have stayed her steps to accept a +card. And duchesses did stay their steps, and cards from the young +firm of Brown, Jones, and Robinson were, as the firm was credibly +informed, placed beneath the eyes of a very illustrious personage +indeed.</p> + +<p>The nature of the card was this. It was folded into three, and when +so folded, was of the size of an ordinary playing card. On the +outside, which bore a satin glaze with a magenta tint, there was a +blank space as though for an address, and the compliments of the firm +in the corner; when opened there was a separate note inside, in which +the public were informed in very few words, that "Messrs. Brown, +Jones, and Robinson were prepared to open their house on the 15th of +May, intending to carry on their trade on principles of commerce +perfectly new, and hitherto untried. The present rate of money in the +city was five per cent., and it would be the practice of the firm to +charge five and a half per cent. on every article sold by them. The +very quick return which this would give them, would enable B. J. and +R. to realize princely fortunes, and at the same time to place within +the reach of the public goods of the very best description at prices +much below any that had ever yet been quoted." This also was printed +on magenta-coloured paper, and "nine times nine is eighty-one" was +inserted both at the top and the bottom.</p> + +<p>On the inside of the card, on the three folds, were printed lists of +the goods offered to the public. The three headings were "cloaks and +shawls," "furs and velvets," "silks and satins;" and in a small note +at the bottom it was stated that the stock of hosiery, handkerchiefs, +ribbons, and gloves, was sufficient to meet any demand which the +metropolis could make upon the firm.</p> + +<p>When that list was first read out in conclave to the partners, Mr. +Brown begged almost with tears in his eyes, that it might be +modified. "George," said he, "we shall be exposed."</p> + +<p>"I hope we shall," said Robinson. "Exposition is all that we desire."</p> + +<p>"Eight thousand African monkey muffs! Oh, George, you must leave out +the monkey muffs."</p> + +<p>"By no means, Mr. Brown."</p> + +<p>"Or bring them down to a few hundreds. Two hundred African monkey +muffs would really be a great many."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Brown," said Robinson on that occasion;—and it may be doubted +whether he ever again spoke to the senior partner of his firm in +terms so imperious and decisive; "Mr. Brown, to you has been allotted +your share in our work, and when you insisted on throwing away our +ready money on those cheap Manchester prints, I never said a word. It +lay in your department to do so. The composition of this card lies in +mine, and I mean to exercise my own judgment." And then he went on, +"Eight thousand real African monkey muffs; six thousand ditto, ditto, +ditto, very superior, with long fine hair." Mr. Brown merely groaned, +but he said nothing further.</p> + +<p>"Couldn't you say that they are such as are worn by the Princess +Alice?" suggested Jones.</p> + +<p>"No, I could not," answered Robinson. "You may tell them that in the +shop if you please. That will lie in your department."</p> + +<p>In this way was the first card of the firm drawn out, and in the +space of a fortnight, nineteen thousand of them were disseminated +through the metropolis. When it is declared that each of those cards +cost B. J. and R. threepence three farthings, some idea may be formed +of the style in which they commenced their operations.</p> + + +<p><a name="c6" id="c6"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER VI.</h3> +<h4>IT IS OUR OPENING DAY.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>And now the day had arrived on which the firm was to try the result +of their efforts. It is believed that the 15th of May in that year +will not easily be forgotten in the neighbourhood of Bishopsgate +Street. It was on this day that the experiment of the men in armour +was first tried, and the four cavaliers, all mounted and polished as +bright as brass, were stationed in the front of the house by nine +o'clock. There they remained till the doors and shop windows were +opened, which ceremony actually took place at twelve. It had been +stated to the town on the preceding day by a man dressed as Fame, +with a long horn, who had been driven about in a gilt car, that this +would be done at ten. But peeping through the iron shutters at that +hour, the gentlemen of the firm saw that the crowd was as yet by no +means great. So a huge poster was put up outside each +<span class="nowrap">window:—</span><br /> </p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table style="margin: 0 auto" cellpadding="6"> + <tr> + <td align="center"> + <p class="noindent"><span class="nonser"><b>POSTPONED + TILL ELEVEN.</b></span></p> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="center"> + <p class="noindent">IMMENSE PRESSURE OF GOODS + IN THE BACK PREMISES.<br /> </p> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + + +<p>At eleven this was done again; but at twelve the house was really +opened. At that time the car with Fame and the long horn was +stationed in front of the men in armour, and there really was a +considerable concourse of people.</p> + +<p>"This won't do, Mr. Brown," a policeman had said. "The people are +half across the street."</p> + +<p>"Success! success!" shouted Mr. Robinson, from the first landing on +the stairs. He was busy correcting the proofs of their second set of +notices to the public.</p> + +<p>"Shall we open, George?" whispered Mr. Brown, who was rather +flurried.</p> + +<p>"Yes; you may as well begin," said he. "It must be done sooner or +later." And then he retired quietly to his work. He had allowed +himself to be elated for one moment at the interference of the +police, but after that he remained above, absorbed in his work; or if +not so absorbed, disdaining to mix with the crowd below. For there, +in the centre of the shop, leaning on the arm of Mr. William Brisket, +stood Maryanne Brown.</p> + +<p>As regards grouping, there was certainly some propriety in the +arrangements made for receiving the public. When the iron shutters +were wound up, the young men of the establishment stood in a row +behind one of the counters, and the young women behind the other. +They were very nicely got up for the occasion. The girls were all +decorated with magenta-coloured ribbons, and the young men with +magenta neckties. Mr. Jones had been very anxious to charge them for +these articles in their wages, but Mr. Brown's good feeling had +prevented this. "No, Jones, no; the master always finds the livery." +There had been something in the words, master and livery, which had +tickled the ears of his son-in-law, and so the matter had been +allowed to pass by.</p> + +<p>In the centre of the shop stood Mr. Brown, very nicely dressed in a +new suit of black. That bald head of his, and the way he had of +rubbing his hands together, were not ill-calculated to create +respect. But on such occasions it was always necessary to induce him +to hold his tongue. Mr. Brown never spoke effectively unless he had +been first moved almost to tears. It was now his special business to +smile, and he did smile. On his right hand stood his partner and +son-in-law Jones, mounted quite irrespectively of expense. His +waistcoat and cravat may be said to have been gorgeous, and from his +silky locks there came distilled a mixed odour of musk and patchouli. +About his neck also the colours of the house were displayed, and in +his hand he waved a magenta handkerchief. His wife was leaning on his +arm, and on such an occasion as this even Robinson had consented to +her presence. She was dressed from head to foot in magenta. She wore +a magenta bonnet, and magenta stockings, and it was said of her that +she was very careful to allow the latter article to be seen. The only +beauty of which Sarah Jane could boast, rested in her feet and +ankles.</p> + +<p>But on the other side of Mr. Brown stood a pair, for whose presence +there George Robinson had not expressed his approbation, and as to +one of whom it may be said that better taste would have been shown on +all sides had he not thus intruded himself. Mr. Brisket had none of +the rights of proprietorship in that house, nor would it be possible +that he should have as long as the name of the firm contained within +itself that of Mr. Robinson. Had Brown, Jones, and Brisket agreed to +open shop together, it would have been well for Brisket to stand +there with that magenta shawl round his neck, and waving that magenta +towel in his hand. But as it was, what business had he there?</p> + +<p>"What business has he there? Ah, tell me that; what business has he +there?" said Robinson to himself, as he sat moodily in the small back +room upstairs. "Ah, tell me that, what business has he here? Did not +the old man promise that she should be mine? Is it for him that I +have done all; for him that I have collected the eager crowd of +purchasers that throng the hall of commerce below, which my taste has +decorated? Or for her—? Have I done this for her,—the false one? +But what recks it? She shall live to know that had she been constant +to me she might have sat—almost upon a throne!" And then he rushed +again to his work, and with eager pen struck off those well-known +lines about the house which some short time after ravished the ears +of the metropolis.</p> + +<p>In a following chapter of these memoirs it will be necessary to go +back for a while to the domestic life of some of the persons +concerned, and the fact of Mr. Brisket's presence at the opening of +the house will then be explained. In the meantime the gentle reader +is entreated to take it for granted that Mr. William Brisket was +actually there, standing on the left hand of Mr. Brown, waving high +above his head a huge magenta cotton handkerchief, and that on his +other arm was hanging Maryanne Brown, leaning quite as closely upon +him as her sister did upon the support which was her own. For one +moment George Robinson allowed himself to look down upon the scene, +and he plainly saw that clutch of the hand upon the sleeve. "Big as +he is," said Robinson to himself, "pistols would make us equal. But +the huge ox has no sense of chivalry."</p> + +<p>It was unfortunate for the future intrinsic comfort of the firm that +that member of it who was certainly not the least enterprising should +have found himself unable to join in the ceremony of opening the +house; but, nevertheless, it must be admitted that that ceremony was +imposing. Maryanne Brown was looking her best, and dressed as she was +in the correctest taste of the day, wearing of course the colours of +the house, it was not unnatural that all eyes should be turned on +her. "What a big man that Robinson is!" some one in the crowd was +heard to observe. Yes; that huge lump of human clay that called +itself William Brisket, the butcher of Aldersgate Street, was +actually taken on that occasion for the soul, and life, and salt of +an advertising house. Of Mr. William Brisket, it may here be said, +that he had no other idea of trade than that of selling at so much +per pound the beef which he had slaughtered with his own hands.</p> + +<p>But that ceremony was imposing. "Ladies and gentlemen," said those +five there assembled—speaking as it were with one voice,—"we bid +you welcome to Magenta House. Nine times nine is eighty-one. Never +forget that." Robinson had planned the words, but he was not there to +assist at their utterance! "Ladies and gentlemen, again we bid you +welcome to Magenta House." And then they retired backwards down the +shop, allowing the crowd to press forward, and all packed themselves +for awhile into Mr. Brown's little room at the back.</p> + +<p>"It was smart," said Mr. Brisket.</p> + +<p>"And went off uncommon well," said Jones, shaking the scent from his +head. "All the better, too, because that chap wasn't here."</p> + +<p>"He's a clever fellow," said Brisket.</p> + +<p>"And you shouldn't speak against him behind his back, Jones. Who did +it all? And who couldn't have done it if he hadn't been here?" When +these words were afterwards told to George Robinson, he forgave Mr. +Brown a great deal.</p> + +<p>The architect, acting under the direction of Mr. Robinson, had +contrived to arch the roof, supporting it on five semicircular iron +girders, which were left there visible to the eye, and which were of +course painted magenta. On the foremost of these was displayed the +name of the firm,—Brown, Jones, and Robinson. On the second, the +name of the house,—Magenta House. On the third the number,—Nine +times nine is eighty one. On the fourth, an edict of trade against +which retail houses in the haberdashery line should never +sin,—"Terms: Ready cash." And on the last, the special principle of +our trade,—"Five-and-a-half per cent. profit." The back of the shop +was closed in with magenta curtains, through which the bald head of +Mr. Brown would not unfrequently be seen to emerge; and on each side +of the curtains there stood a tall mirror, reaching up to the very +ceiling. Upon the whole, the thing certainly was well done.</p> + +<p>"But the contractor,"—the man who did the work was called the +contractor,—"the contractor says that he will want the rest of his +money in two months," said Mr. Brown, whining.</p> + +<p>"He would not have wanted any for the next twelve months," answered +Robinson, "if you had not insisted on paying him those few hundreds."</p> + +<p>"You can find fault with the bill, you know," said Jones, "and delay +it almost any time by threatening him with a lawyer."</p> + +<p>"And then he will put a distress on us," said Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"And after that will be very happy to take our bill at six months," +answered Robinson. And so that matter was ended for the time.</p> + +<p>Those men in armour stood there the whole of that day, and Fame in +his gilded car used his trumpet up and down Bishopsgate Street with +such effect, that the people living on each side of the street became +very sick of him. Fame himself was well acted,—at 16<i>s.</i> the +day,—and when the triumphal car remained still, stood balanced on +one leg, with the other stretched out behind, in a manner that +riveted attention. But no doubt his horn was badly chosen. Mr. +Robinson insisted on a long single-tubed instrument, saying that it +was classical; but a cornet à piston would have given more pleasure.</p> + +<p>A good deal of money was taken on that day; but certainly not so much +as had been anticipated. Very many articles were asked for, looked +at, and then not purchased. But this, though it occasioned grief to +Mr. Brown, was really not of much moment. That the thing should be +talked of,—if possible mentioned in the newspapers—was the object +of the firm.</p> + +<p>"I would give my bond for 2,000<i>l.</i>," said Robinson, "to get a leader +in the Jupiter."</p> + +<p>The first article demanded over the counter was a real African monkey +muff, very superior, with long fine hair.</p> + +<p>"The ships which are bringing them have not yet arrived from the +coast," answered Jones, who luckily stepped up at the moment. "They +are expected in the docks to-morrow."</p> + + +<p><a name="c7" id="c7"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER VII.</h3> +<h4>MISS BROWN PLEADS HER OWN CASE,<br /> +AND MR. ROBINSON WALKS ON BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>At the time of Mrs. McCockerell's death Robinson and Maryanne Brown +were not on comfortable terms with each other. She had twitted him +with being remiss in asserting his own rights in the presence of his +rival, and he had accused her of being fickle, if not actually false.</p> + +<p>"I shall be just as fickle as I please," she said. "If it suits me +I'll have nine to follow me; but there shan't be one of the nine who +won't hold up his head and look after his own."</p> + +<p>"Your conduct, Maryanne—."</p> + +<p>"George, I won't be scolded, and that you ought to know. If you don't +like me, you are quite welcome to do the other thing." And then they +parted. This took place after Mr. Brown's adherence to the Robinson +interest, and while Brisket was waiting passively to see if that five +hundred pounds would be forthcoming.</p> + +<p>Their next meeting was in the presence of Mr. Brown; and on that +occasion all the three spoke out their intentions on the subject of +their future family arrangements, certainly with much plain language, +if not on every side with positive truth. Mr. Robinson was at the +house in Smithfield, giving counsel to old Mr. Brown as to the +contest which was then being urged between him and his son-in-law. At +that period the two sisters conceived that their joint pecuniary +interests required that they should act together; and it must be +acknowledged that they led poor Mr. Brown a sad life of it. He and +Robinson were sitting upstairs in the little back room looking out +into Spavinhorse Yard, when Maryanne abruptly broke in upon them.</p> + +<p>"Father," she said, standing upright in the middle of the room before +them, "I have come to know what it is that you mean to do?"</p> + +<p>"To do, my dear?" said old Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"Yes; to do. I suppose something is to be done some day. We ain't +always to go on shilly-shallying, spending the money, and ruining the +business, and living from hand to mouth, as though there was no end +to anything. I've got myself to look to, and I don't mean to go into +the workhouse if I can help it!"</p> + +<p>"The workhouse, Maryanne!"</p> + +<p>"I said the workhouse, father, and I meant it. If everybody had what +was justly their own, I shouldn't have to talk in that way. But as +far as I can see, them sharks, the lawyers, will have it all. Now, +I'll tell you what it <span class="nowrap">is—"</span></p> + +<p>Hitherto Robinson had not said a word; but at this moment he thought +it right to interfere. "Maryanne!" he said,—and, in pronouncing the +well-loved name, he threw into it all the affection of which his +voice was capable,—"Maryanne!"</p> + +<p>"'Miss Brown' would be a deal properer, and also much more pleasing, +if it's all the same to you, sir!"</p> + +<p>How often had he whispered "Maryanne" into her ears, and the dear +girl had smiled upon him to hear herself so called! But he could not +remind her of this at the present moment. "I have your father's +sanction," said <span class="nowrap">he—</span></p> + +<p>"My father is nothing to me,—not with reference to what young man I +let myself be called 'Maryanne' by. And going on as he is going on, I +don't suppose that he'll long be much to me in any way."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Maryanne!" sobbed the unhappy parent.</p> + +<p>"That's all very well, sir, but it won't keep the kettle a-boiling!"</p> + +<p>"As long as I have a bit to eat of, Maryanne, and a cup to drink of, +you shall have the half."</p> + +<p>"And what am I to do when you won't have neither a bit nor a cup? +That's what you're coming to, father. We can all see that. What's the +use of all them lawyers?"</p> + +<p>"That's Jones's doing," said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"No; it isn't Jones's doing. And of course Jones must look after +himself. I'm not partial to Jones. Everybody knows that. When Sarah +Jane disgraced herself, and went off with him, I never said a word in +her favour. It wasn't I who brought a viper into the house and warmed +it in my bosom." It was at this moment that Jones was behaving with +the most barefaced effrontery, as well as the utmost cruelty, towards +the old man, and Maryanne's words cut her father to the very soul. +"Jones might have been anywhere for me," she continued; "but there he +is downstairs, and Sarah Jane is with him. Of course they are looking +for their own."</p> + +<p>"And what is it you want, Maryanne?"</p> + +<p>"Well; I'll tell you what I want. My dear sainted mother's last wish +was that—I should become Mrs. Brisket!"</p> + +<p>"And do you mean to say," said Robinson—"do you mean to say that +that is now your wish?" And he looked at her till the audacity even +of her eyes sank beneath the earnestness of his own. But though for +the moment he quelled her eye, nothing could quell her voice.</p> + +<p>"I mean to say," said she, speaking loudly, and with her arms akimbo, +"that William Brisket is a very respectable young man, with a +trade,—that he's got a decent house for a young woman to live in, +and a decent table for her to sit at. And he's always been brought up +decent, having been a regular 'prentice to his uncle, and all that +sort of thing. He's never been wandering about like a vagrant, +getting his money nobody knows how. William Brisket's as well known +in Aldersgate Street as the Post Office. And moreover," she added, +after a pause, speaking these last words in a somewhat milder +breath—"And moreover, it was my sainted mother's wish!"</p> + +<p>"Then go to him!" said Robinson, rising suddenly, and stretching out +his arm against her. "Go to him, and perform your—sainted mother's +wish! Go to the—butcher! Revel in his shambles, and grow fat and +sleek in his slaughter-house! From this moment George Robinson will +fight the world alone. Brisket, indeed! If it be accounted manliness +to have killed hecatombs of oxen, let him be called manly!"</p> + +<p>"He would have pretty nigh killed you, young man, on one occasion, if +you hadn't made yourself scarce."</p> + +<p>"By heavens!" exclaimed Robinson, "if he'll come forth, I'll fight +him to-morrow;—with cleavers, if he will!"</p> + +<p>"George, George, don't say that," exclaimed Mr. Brown. "'Let dogs +delight to bark and bite.'"</p> + +<p>"You needn't be afraid," said Maryanne. "He doesn't mean fighting," +and she pointed to Robinson. "William would about eat him, you know, +if they were to come together."</p> + +<p>"Heaven forbid!" said Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"But what I want to know is this," continued the maiden; "how is it +to be about that five hundred pounds which my mother left me?"</p> + +<p>"But, my dear, your mother had not five hundred pounds to leave."</p> + +<p>"Nor did she make any will if she had," said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"Now don't put in your oar, for I won't have it," said the lady. "And +you'd show a deal more correct feeling if you wasn't so much about +the house just at present. My darling mamma,"—and then she put her +handkerchief up to her eyes—"always told William that when he and I +became one, there should be five hundred pounds down;—and of course +he expects it. Now, sir, you often talk about your love for your +children."</p> + +<p>"I do love them; so I do. What else have I?"</p> + +<p>"Now's the time to prove it. Let me have that sum of five hundred +pounds, and I will always take your part against the Joneses. Five +hundred pounds isn't so much,—and surely I have a right to some +share. And you may be sure of this; when we're settled, Brisket is +not the man to come back to you for more, as some would do." And then +she gave another look at Robinson.</p> + +<p>"I haven't got the money; have I, George?" said the father.</p> + +<p>"That question I cannot answer," replied Robinson. "Nor can I say how +far it might be prudent in you to debar yourself from all further +progress in commerce if you have got it. But this I can say; do not +let any consideration for me prevent you from giving a dowry with +your daughter to Mr. Brisket; if she loves +<span class="nowrap">him—"</span></p> + +<p>"Oh, it's all bother about love," said she; "men and women must eat, +and they must have something to give their children, when they come."</p> + +<p>"But if I haven't got it, my dear?"</p> + +<p>"That's nonsense, father. Where has the money gone to? Whatever you +do, speak the truth. If you choose to say you +<span class="nowrap">won't—"</span></p> + +<p>"Well, then, I won't," said he, roused suddenly to anger. "I never +made Brisket any promise!"</p> + +<p>"But mother did; she as is now gone, and far away; and it was her +money,—so it was."</p> + +<p>"It wasn't her money;—it was mine!" said Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"And that's all the answer I'm to get? Very well. Then I shall know +where to look for my rights. And as for that fellow there, I didn't +think it of him, that he'd be so mean. I knew he was a coward +always."</p> + +<p>"I am neither mean nor a coward," said Robinson, jumping up, and +speaking with a voice that was audible right across Spavinhorse Yard, +and into the tap of the "Man of Mischief" public-house opposite. "As +for meanness, if I had the money, I would pour it out into your lap, +though I knew that it was to be converted into beef and mutton for +the benefit of a hated rival. And as for cowardice, I repel the +charge, and drive it back into the teeth of him who, doubtless, made +it. I am no coward."</p> + +<p>"You ran away when he bid you!"</p> + +<p>"Yes; because he is big and strong, and had I remained, he would have +knocked me about, and made me ridiculous in the eyes of the +spectators. But I am no coward. If you wish it, I am ready to fight +him."</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear, no. It can be nothing to me."</p> + +<p>"He will make me one mash of gore," said Robinson, still holding out +his hand. "But if you wish it, I care nothing for that. His brute +strength will, of course, prevail; but I am indifferent as to that, +if it would do you a pleasure."</p> + +<p>"Pleasure to me! Nothing of the kind, I can assure you."</p> + +<p>"Maryanne, if I might have my wish, it should be this. Let us both +sit down, with our cigars lighted,—ay, and with tapers in our +hands,—on an open barrel of gunpowder. Then let him who will sit +there longest receive this fair hand as his prize." And as he +finished, he leaned over her, and took up her hand in his.</p> + +<p>"Laws, Robinson!" she said; but she did not on the moment withdraw +her hand. "And if you were both blew up, what'd I do then?"</p> + +<p>"I won't hear of such an arrangement," said Mr. Brown. "It would be +very wicked. If there's another word spoke about it, I'll go to the +police at once!"</p> + +<p>On that occasion Mr. Brown was quite determined about the money; and, +as we heard afterwards, Mr. Brisket expressed himself as equally +resolute. "Of course, I expect to see my way," said he; "I can't do +anything of that sort without seeing my way." When that overture +about the gunpowder was repeated to him, he is reported to have +become very red. "Either with gloves or without, or with the sticks, +I'm ready for him," said he; "but as for sitting on a barrel of +gunpowder, it's a thing as nobody wouldn't do unless they was in +Bedlam."</p> + +<p>When that interview was over, Robinson walked forth by himself into +the evening air, along Giltspur Street, down the Old Bailey, and so +on by Bridge Street, to the middle of Blackfriars Bridge; and as he +walked, he strove manfully to get the better of the passion which was +devouring the strength of his blood, and the marrow of his bones.</p> + +<p>"If she be not fair for me," he sang to himself, "what care I how +fair she be?" But he did care; he could not master that passion. She +had been vile to him, unfeminine, untrue, coarsely abusive; she had +shown herself to be mercenary, incapable of true love, a scold, +fickle, and cruel. But yet he loved her. There was a gallant feeling +at his heart that no misfortune could conquer him,—but one; that +misfortune had fallen upon him,—and he was conquered.</p> + +<p>"Why is it," he said as he looked down into the turbid stream—"why +is it that bloodshed, physical strife, and brute power are dear to +them all? Any fool can have personal bravery; 'tis but a sign of +folly to know no fear. Grant that a man has no imagination, and he +cannot fear; but when a man does fear, and yet is +<span class="nowrap">brave—"</span> Then for +awhile he stopped himself. "Would that I had gone at his throat like +a dog!" he continued, still in his soliloquy. "Would that I had! +Could I have torn out his tongue, and laid it as a trophy at her +feet, then she would have loved me." After that he wandered slowly +home, and went to bed.</p> + + +<p><a name="c8" id="c8"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER VIII.</h3> +<h4>MR. BRISKET THINKS HE SEES HIS WAY,<br /> +AND MR. ROBINSON AGAIN WALKS ON BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>For some half-hour on that night, as Robinson had slowly walked +backwards and forwards across the bridge, ideas of suicide had +flitted across his mind. Should he not put an end to all this,—to +all this and so much else that harassed him and made life weary. +"''Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished,'" he said, as he looked +down into the dark river. And then he repeated a good deal more, +expressing his desire to sleep, but acknowledging that his dreams in +that strange bed might be the rub. "And thus 'calamity must still +live on,'" he said, as he went home to his lodgings.</p> + +<p>Then came those arrangements as to the partnership and the house in +Bishopsgate Street, which have already been narrated. During the +weeks which produced these results, he frequently saw Maryanne in +Smithfield, but never spoke to her, except on the ordinary topics of +the day. In his demeanour he was courteous to her, but he never once +addressed her except as Miss Brown, and always with a politeness +which was as cold as it was studied. On one or two occasions he +thought that he observed in her manner something that showed a wish +for reconciliation; but still he said nothing to her. "She has +treated me like a dog," he said to himself, "and yet I love her. If I +tell her so, she will treat me worse than a dog." Then he heard, +also, that Brisket had declared more than once that he could not see +his way. "I could see mine," he said, "as though a star guided me, if +she should but stretch forth her hand to me and ask me to forgive +her."</p> + +<p>It was some week or two after the deed of partnership had been +signed, and when the house at No. 81 had been just taken, that Miss +Twizzle came to Robinson. He was, at the moment, engaged in +composition for an illustrious house in the Minories that shall be +nameless; but he immediately gave his attention to Miss Twizzle, +though at the moment he was combating the difficulties of a rhyme +which it had been his duty to repeat nineteen times in the same poem. +"I think that will do," said he, as he wrote it down. "And yet it's +lame,—very lame:</p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table style="margin: 0 auto" cellpadding="1"> + <tr> + <td align="left"> + <p class="noindent">But no lady ever loses<br /> + By going to the shop of—"</p> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + + +<p class="noindent">And then Miss Twizzle entered.</p> + +<p>"I see you are engaged," said she, "and, perhaps, I had better call +another time."</p> + +<p>"By no means, Miss Twizzle; pray be seated. How is everything going +on at the Hall of Harmony?"</p> + +<p>"I haven't been there, Mr. Robinson, since that night as Mr. Brisket +did behave so bad. I got such a turn that night, as I can't endure +the sight of the room ever since. If you'll believe me, I can't."</p> + +<p>"It was not a pleasant occurrence," said Robinson. "I felt it very +keenly. A man's motives are so vilely misconstrued, Miss Twizzle. I +have been accused of—of—cowardice."</p> + +<p>"Not by me, Mr. Robinson. I did say you should have stuck up a bit; +but I didn't mean anything like that."</p> + +<p>"Well; it's over now. When are they to be married, Miss Twizzle?"</p> + +<p>"Now, Mr. Robinson, don't you talk like that. You wouldn't take it +all calm that way if you thought she was going to have him."</p> + +<p>"I mean to take it very calm for the future."</p> + +<p>"But I suppose you're not going to give her up. It wouldn't be like +you, that wouldn't."</p> + +<p>"She has spurned me, Miss Twizzle; and after +<span class="nowrap">that—."</span></p> + +<p>"Oh, spurn! that's all my eye. Of course she has. There's a little of +that always, you know,—just for the fun of the thing. The course of +love shouldn't run too smooth. I wouldn't give a straw for a young +man if he wouldn't let me spurn him sometimes."</p> + +<p>"But you wouldn't call him a—a—"</p> + +<p>"A what? A coward, is it? Indeed but I would, or anything else that +came uppermost. Laws! what's the good of keeping company if you ain't +to say just what comes uppermost at the moment. 'Twas but the other +day I called my young man a raskil."</p> + +<p>"It was in sport, no doubt."</p> + +<p>"I was that angry at the time I could have tore him limb from limb; I +was, indeed. But he says, 'Polly,' says he, 'if I'm a he-raskil, +you're a she-raskil; so that needn't make any difference between us.' +And no more it didn't. He gets his salary rose in January, and then +we shall be married."</p> + +<p>"I wish you all the happiness that married life can bestow," said +Robinson.</p> + +<p>"That's very prettily said, and I wish the same to you. Only you +mustn't be so down like. There's Maryanne; she says you haven't a +word for her now."</p> + +<p>"She'll find as many words as she likes in Aldersgate Street, no +doubt."</p> + +<p>"Now, Robinson, if you're going to go on like that, you are not the +man I always took you for. You didn't suppose that a girl like +Maryanne isn't to have her bit of fun as long as it lasts. Them as is +as steady as old horses before marriage usually has their colt's +fling after marriage. Maryanne's principles is good, and that's +everything;—ain't it?"</p> + +<p>"I impute nothing to Miss Brown, except that she is false, and +mercenary, and cruel."</p> + +<p>"Exactly; just a she-raskil, as Tom called me. I was mercenary and +all the rest of it. But, laws! what's that between friends? The long +and short of it is this; is Barkis willing? If Barkis is willing, +then a certain gentleman as we know in the meat trade may suit +himself elsewhere. Come; answer that. Is Barkis willing?"</p> + +<p>For a minute or two Robinson sat silent, thinking of the indignities +he had endured. That he loved the girl,—loved her warmly, with all +his heart,—was only too true. Yes; he loved her too well. Had his +affection been of a colder nature, he would have been able to stand +off for awhile, and thus have taught the lady a lesson which might +have been of service. But, in his present mood, the temptation was +too great for him, and he could not resist it. "Barkis is willing," +said he. And thus, at the first overture, he forgave her all the +injury she had done him. A man never should forgive a woman unless he +has her absolutely in his power. When he does so, and thus wipes out +all old scores, he merely enables her to begin again.</p> + +<p>But Robinson had said the word, and Miss Twizzle was not the woman to +allow him to go back from it. "That's well," said she. "And now I'll +tell you what. Tom and I are going to drink tea in Smithfield, with +old Brown, you know. You'll come too; and then, when old Brown goes +to sleep, you and Maryanne will make it up." Of course she had her +way; and Robinson, though he repented himself of what he was doing +before she was out of the room, promised to be there.</p> + +<p>And he was there. When he entered Mr. Brown's sitting-room he found +Maryanne and Miss Twizzle, but Miss Twizzle's future lord had not yet +come. He did not wait for Mr. Brown to go to sleep, but at once +declared the purpose of his visit.</p> + +<p>"Shall I say 'Maryanne?'" said he, putting out his hand; "or is it to +be 'Miss Brown?'"</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm sure," said she; "there's a question! If 'Miss Brown' will +do for you, sir, it will do uncommon well for me."</p> + +<p>"Call her 'Maryanne,' and have done with it," said Miss Twizzle. "I +hate all such nonsense, like poison."</p> + +<p>"George," said the old man, "take her, and may a father's blessing go +along with her. We are partners in the haberdashery business, and now +we shall be partners in everything." Then he rose up, as though he +were going to join their hands.</p> + +<p>"Oh, father, I know a trick worth two of that!" said Maryanne. +"That's not the way we manage these things now-a-days, is it, Polly?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know any better way," said Polly, "when Barkis is willing."</p> + +<p>"Maryanne," said Robinson, "let bygones be bygones."</p> + +<p>"With all my heart," said she. "All of them, if you like."</p> + +<p>"No, not quite all, Maryanne. Those moments in which I first declared +what I felt for you can never be bygones for me. I have never +faltered in my love; and now, if you choose to accept my hand in the +presence of your father, there it is."</p> + +<p>"God bless you, my boy! God bless you!" said Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"Come, Maryanne," said Miss Twizzle, "he has spoke out now, quite +manly; and you should give him an answer."</p> + +<p>"But he is so imperious, Polly! If he only sees me speaking to +another, in the way of civility—as, of course, I must,—he's up with +his grand ways, and I'm put in such a trembling that I don't know how +to open my mouth."</p> + +<p>Of course, every one will know how the affair ended on that evening. +The quarrels of lovers have ever been the renewal of love. Miss Brown +did accept Mr. Robinson's vows; Mr. Brown did go to sleep; Tom, whose +salary was about to be raised to the matrimonial point, did arrive; +and the evening was passed in bliss and harmony.</p> + +<p>Then, again, for a week or two did George Robinson walk upon roses. +It could not now be thrown in his teeth that some other suitor was an +established tradesman; for such also was his proud position. He was +one of that firm whose name was already being discussed in the +commercial world, and could feel that the path to glory was open +beneath his feet. It was during these days that those original ideas +as to the name and colour of the house, and as to its architectural +ornamentation, came from his brain, and that he penned many of those +advertisements which afterwards made his reputation so great. It was +then that he so plainly declared his resolve to have his own way in +his own department, and startled his partners by the firmness of his +purpose. It need hardly be said that gratified love was the source +from whence he drew his inspiration.</p> + +<p>"And now let us name the day," said Robinson, as soon as that other +day,—the opening day for Magenta House,—had been settled. All +nature would then be smiling. It would be the merry month of May; and +Robinson suggested that, after the toil of the first fortnight of the +opening, a day's holiday for matrimonial purposes might well be +accorded to him. "We'll go to the bowers of Richmond, Maryanne," said +he.</p> + +<p>"God bless you, my children," said Mr. Brown. "And as for the +holiday, Jones shall see the shutters down, and I will see them up +again."</p> + +<p>"What!" said Maryanne. "This next first of June as ever is? I'll do +no such thing."</p> + +<p>"Why not, my own one?"</p> + +<p>"I never heard the like! Where am I to get my things? And you will +have no house taken or anything. If you think I'm going into lodgings +like Sarah Jane, you're mistook. I don't marry unless I have things +comfortable about me,—furniture, and all that. While you were in +your tantrums, George, I once went to see William Brisket's house."</p> + +<p>"—— William Brisket!" said Robinson. Perhaps, he was wrong in using +such a phrase, but it must be confessed that he was sorely tried. Who +but a harpy would have alluded to the comforts of a rival's domestic +establishment at such a moment as that? Maryanne Brown was a harpy, +and is a harpy to this day.</p> + +<p>"There, father," said she, "look at that! just listen to him! You +wouldn't believe me before. What's a young woman to look for with a +man as can go on like that?—cursing and swearing before one's +face,—quite awful!"</p> + +<p>"He was aggravated, Maryanne," said the old man.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and he'll always be being aggravated. If he thinks as I ain't +going to speak civil of them as has always spoke civil to me, he's in +the wrong of it. William Brisket never went about cursing at me in +that way."</p> + +<p>"I didn't curse at you, Maryanne."</p> + +<p>"If William Brisket had anything to say of a rival, he said it out +honest. 'Maryanne,' said he to me once, 'if that young man comes +after you any more, I'll polish his head off his shoulders.' Now, +that was speaking manly; and, if you could behave like that, you'd +get yourself respected. But as for them rampagious Billingsgate ways +before a lady, I for one haven't been used to it, and I won't put up +with it!" And so she bounced out of the room.</p> + +<p>"You shouldn't have swore at her, George," said Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"Swear at her!" said Robinson, putting his hand up to his head, as +though he found it almost impossible to collect his scattered +thoughts. "But it doesn't matter. The world may swear at her for me +now; and the world will swear at her!" So saying, he left the house, +went hastily down Snow Hill, and again walked moodily on the bridge +of Blackfriars. "'Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished," said he: +"—devoutly!—devoutly! And when they take me up,—up to her, would +it be loving, or would it be loathing?—A nasty, cold, moist, +unpleasant body!" he went on. "Ah me! it would be loathing! He hadn't +a father; he hadn't a mother; he hadn't a sister; he hadn't a +brother;—but he had a dearer one still, and a nearer one yet, than +all other.—'To be or not to be; that is the question.'—He must in +ground unsanctified be lodged, till the last trumpet! Ah, there's the +rub! But for that, who would these fardels bear?" Then he made up his +mind that the fardels must still be borne, and again went home to his +lodgings.</p> + +<p>This had occurred some little time before the opening of the house, +and on the next morning George Robinson was at his work as hard,—ay, +harder—than ever. He had pledged himself to the firm, and was aware +that it would ill become him to allow private sorrows to interfere +with public duties. On that morrow he was more enterprising than +ever, and it was then that he originated the idea of the four men in +armour, and of Fame with her classical horn and gilded car.</p> + +<p>"She'll come round again, George," said Mr. Brown, "and then take her +at the hop."</p> + +<p>"She'll hop no more for me," said George Robinson, sternly. But on +this matter he was weak as water, and this woman was able to turn him +round her little finger.</p> + +<p>On the fourteenth of May, the day previous to the opening of the +house, Robinson was seated upstairs alone, still at work on some of +his large posters. There was no sound to be heard but the hammers of +the workmen below; and the smell of the magenta paint, as it dried, +was strong in his nostrils. It was then that one of the workmen came +up to him, saying that there was a gentleman below who wished to see +him. At this period Robinson was anxious to be called on by +commercial gentlemen, and at once sent down civil word, begging that +the gentleman would walk up. With heavy step the gentleman did walk +up, and William Brisket was shown into the room.</p> + +<p>"Sir," said George Robinson as soon as he saw him, "I did not expect +this honour from you." And then he bethought himself of his desire to +tear out the monster's tongue, and began to consider whether he might +do it now.</p> + +<p>"I don't know much about honour," said Brisket; "but it seems to me +an understandin's wanted 'twixt you and I."</p> + +<p>"There can be none such," said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"Oh, but there must."</p> + +<p>"It is not within the compass of things. You, sir, cannot understand +me;—your intellectual vision is too limited. And I,—I will not +understand you."</p> + +<p>"Won't you, by jingo! Then your vision shall be limited, as far as +two uncommon black eyes can limit it. But come, Robinson, if you +don't want to quarrel, I don't."</p> + +<p>"As for quarrelling," said Robinson, "it is the work of children. +Come, Brisket, will you jump with me into yonder river? The first +that reaches the further side, let him have her!" And he pointed up +Bishopsgate Street towards the Thames.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you can swim?" said Brisket.</p> + +<p>"Not a stroke!" said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"Then what a jolly pair of fools we should be!"</p> + +<p>"Ah-h-h-h! That's the way to try a man's metal!"</p> + +<p>"If you talk to me about metal, young man, I'll drop into you. You've +been a-sending all manner of messages to me about a barrel of +gunpowder and that sort of thing, and it's my mind that you're a +little out of your own. Now I ain't going to have anything to do with +gunpowder, nor yet with the river. It's a nasty place is the river; +and when I want a wash I shan't go there."</p> + +<p>"'Dreadfully staring through muddy impurity!'" said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"Impurity enough," continued the other; "and I won't have anything to +do with it. Now, I'll tell you what. Will you give me your word, as a +man, never to have nothing more to say to Maryanne Brown?"</p> + +<p>"Never again to speak to her?"</p> + +<p>"Not, except in the way of respect, when she's Mrs. Brisket."</p> + +<p>"Never again to clasp her hand in mine?"</p> + +<p>"Not by no means. And if you want me to remain quiet, you'd a deal +better stow that kind of thing. I'll tell you what it is—I'm +beginning to see my way with old Brown."</p> + +<p>"Et tu, Brute?" said Robinson, clasping his hands together.</p> + +<p>"I'm beginning to see my way with old Brown," continued Brisket; +"and, to tell you the truth at once, I don't mean to be interfered +with."</p> + +<p>"Has—my partner—promised—her hand to you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, he has; and five hundred pounds with it."</p> + +<p>"And she—?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, she's all right. There isn't any doubt about she. I've just come +from she, as you call her. Now that I see my way, she and I is to be +one."</p> + +<p>"And where's the money to come from, Mr. Brisket?"</p> + +<p>"The father 'll stand the money—in course."</p> + +<p>"I don't know where he'll get it, then; certainly not out of the +capital of our business, Mr. Brisket. And since you are so keen about +seeing your way, Mr. Brisket, I advise you to be quite sure that you +do see it."</p> + +<p>"That's my business, young man; I've never been bit yet, and I don't +know as I'm going to begin now. I never moves till I see my way. They +as does is sure to tumble."</p> + +<p>"Well; see your way," said Robinson. "See it as far as your natural +lights will enable you to look. It's nothing to me."</p> + +<p>"Ah, but I must hear you say that you renounce her."</p> + +<p>"Renounce her, false harpy! Ay, with all my heart."</p> + +<p>"But I won't have her called out of her name."</p> + +<p>"She is false."</p> + +<p>"Hold your tongue, or I'll drop into you. They're all more or less +false, no doubt; but I won't have you say so of her. And since you're +so ready about the renouncing, suppose you put it on paper—'I +renounce my right to the hand and heart of Maryanne Brown.' You've +got pen and ink there;—just put it down."</p> + +<p>"It shall not need," said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"Oh, but it does need. It'll put an end to a world of trouble and +make her see that the thing is all settled. It can't be any sorrow to +you, because you say she's a false harpy."</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless, I love her."</p> + +<p>"So do I love her; and as I'm beginning to see my way, why, of +course, I mean to have her. We can't both marry her; can we?"</p> + +<p>"No; not both," said Robinson. "Certainly not both."</p> + +<p>"Then you just write as I bid you," said Brisket.</p> + +<p>"Bid me, sir!"</p> + +<p>"Well,—ask you; if that will make it easier."</p> + +<p>"And what if I don't?"</p> + +<p>"Why, I shall drop into you. That's all about it. There's the pen, +ink, and paper; you'd better do it."</p> + +<p>Not at first did Robinson write those fatal words by which he gave up +all his right to her he loved; but before that interview was ended +the words were written. "What matters it?" he said, at last, just as +Brisket had actually risen from his seat to put his vile threat into +execution. "Has not she renounced me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Brisket, "she has done that certainly."</p> + +<p>"Had she been true to me," continued Robinson, "to do her a pleasure +I would have stood up before you till you had beaten me into the +likeness of one of your own carcases."</p> + +<p>"That's what I should have done, too."</p> + +<p>"But now;—why should I suffer now?"</p> + +<p>"No, indeed; why should you?"</p> + +<p>"I would thrash you if I could, for the pure pleasure."</p> + +<p>"No doubt; no doubt."</p> + +<p>"But it stands to reason that I can't. God, when He gave me power of +mind, gave you power of body."</p> + +<p>"And a little common sense along with it, my friend. I'm generally +able to see my way, big as I look. Come; what's the good of arguing. +You're quick at writing, I know, and there's the paper."</p> + +<p>Then George Robinson did write. The words were as follows;—"I +renounce the hand and heart of Maryanne Brown. I renounce them for +ever.—George Robinson."</p> + +<p>On the night of that day, while the hammers were still ringing by +gaslight in the unfinished shop; while Brown and Jones were still +busy with the goods, and Mrs. Jones was measuring out to the +shop-girls yards of Magenta ribbon, short by an inch, Robinson again +walked down to the bridge. "The bleak wind of March makes me tremble +and shiver," said he to himself;—"but, 'Not the dark arch or the +black flowing river.'"</p> + +<p>"Come, young man, move on," said a policeman to him. And he did move +on.</p> + +<p>"But for that man I should have done it then," he whispered, in his +solitude, as he went to bed.</p> + + +<p><a name="c9" id="c9"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER IX.</h3> +<h4>SHOWING HOW MR. ROBINSON WAS EMPLOYED<br /> +ON THE OPENING DAY.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>"Et tu, Brute?" were the words with which Mr. Brown was greeted at +six o'clock in the morning on that eventful day, when, at early dawn, +he met his young partner at Magenta House. He had never studied the +history of Cæsar's death, but he understood the reproach as well as +any Roman ever did.</p> + +<p>"It was your own doing, George," he said. "When she was swore at in +that way, and when you went away and left +<span class="nowrap">her—."</span></p> + +<p>"It was she went away and left me."</p> + +<p>"'Father,' said she when she came back, 'I shall put myself under the +protection of Mr. William Brisket.' What was I to do then? And when +he came himself, ten minutes afterwards, what was I to say to him? A +father is a father, George; and one's children is one's children."</p> + +<p>"And they are to be married?"</p> + +<p>"Not quite at once, George."</p> + +<p>"No. The mercenary slaughterer will reject that fair hand at last, +unless it comes to him weighted with a money-bag. From whence are to +come those five hundred pounds without which William Brisket will not +allow your daughter to warm herself at his hearthstone?"</p> + +<p>"As Jones has got the partnership, George, Maryanne's husband should +have something."</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes! It is I, then,—I, as one of the partners of this house, +who am to bestow a dowry upon her who has injured me, and make happy +the avarice of my rival! Since the mimic stage first represented the +actions of humanity, no such fate as that has ever been exhibited as +the lot of man. Be it so. Bring hither the cheque-book. That hand +that was base enough to renounce her shall, with the same pen, write +the order for the money."</p> + +<p>"No, George, no," said Mr. Brown. "I never meant to do that. Let him +have it—out of the profits."</p> + +<p>"Ha!"</p> + +<p>"I said in a month,—if things went well. Of course, I meant,—well +enough."</p> + +<p>"But they'll lead you such a life as never man passed yet. Maryanne, +you know, can be bitter; very bitter."</p> + +<p>"I must bear it, George. I've been a-bearing a long while, and I'm +partly used to it. But, George, it isn't a pleasure to me. It isn't a +pleasure to a poor old father to be nagged at by his daughters from +his very breakfast down to his very supper. And they comes to me +sometimes in bed, nagging at me worse than ever."</p> + +<p>"My heart has often bled for you, Mr. Brown."</p> + +<p>"I know it has, George; and that's why I've loved you and trusted +you. And now you won't quarrel with me, will you, though I have a +little thrown you over like?"</p> + +<p>What was Robinson to say? Of course he forgave him. It was in his +nature to forgive; and he would even have forgiven Maryanne at that +moment, had she come to him and asked him. But she was asleep in her +bed, dreaming, perchance, of that big Philistine whom she had chosen +as her future lord. A young David, however, might even yet arise, who +should smite that huge giant with a stone between the eyes.</p> + +<p>Then did Mr. Brown communicate to his partner those arrangements as +to grouping which his younger daughter had suggested for the opening +of the house. When Robinson first heard that Maryanne intended to be +there, he declared his intention of standing by her side, though he +would not deign even to look her in the face. "She shall see that she +has no power over me, to make me quail," he said. And then he was +told that Brisket also would be there; Maryanne had begged the favour +of him, and he had unwillingly consented. "It is hard to bear," said +Robinson, "very hard. But it shall be borne. I do not remember ever +to have heard of the like."</p> + +<p>"He won't come often, George, you may be sure."</p> + +<p>"That I should have planned these glories for him! Well, well; be it +so. What is the pageantry to me? It has been merely done to catch the +butterflies, and of these he is surely the largest. I will sit alone +above, and work there with my brain for the service of the firm, +while you below are satisfying the eyes of the crowd."</p> + +<p>And so it had been, as was told in that chapter which was devoted to +the opening day of the house. Robinson had sat alone in the very room +in which he had encountered Brisket, and had barely left his seat for +one moment when the first rush of the public into the shop had made +his heart leap within him. There the braying of the horn in the +street, and the clatter of the armed horsemen on the pavement, and +the jokes of the young boys, and the angry threatenings of the +policemen, reached his ears. "It is well," said he; "the ball has +been set a-rolling, and the work that has been well begun is already +half completed. When once the steps of the unthinking crowd have +habituated themselves to move hither-ward, they will continue to come +with the constancy of the tide, which ever rolls itself on the same +strand." And then he tasked himself to think how that tide should be +made always to flow,—never to ebb. "They must be brought here," said +he, "ever by new allurements. When once they come, it is only in +accordance with the laws of human nature that they should leave their +money behind them." Upon that, he prepared the words for another +card, in which he begged his friends, the public of the city, to come +to Magenta House, as friends should come. They were invited to see, +and not to buy. The firm did not care that purchases should be made +thus early in their career. Their great desire was that the +arrangements of the establishment should be witnessed before any +considerable portion of the immense stock had been moved for the +purpose of retail sale. And then the West End public were especially +requested to inspect the furs which were being collected for the +anticipated sale of the next winter. It was as he wrote these words +that he heard that demand for the African monkey muff, and heard also +Mr. Jones's discreet answer. "Yes," said he to himself; "before we +have done, ships shall come to us from all coasts; real ships. From +Tyre and Sidon, they shall come; from Ophir and Tarshish, from the +East and from the West, and from the balmy southern islands. How +sweet will it be to be named among the Merchant Princes of this great +commercial nation!" But he felt that Brown and Jones would never be +Merchant Princes, and he already looked forward to the day when he +would be able to emancipate himself from such thraldom.</p> + +<p>It has been already said that a considerable amount of business was +done over the counter on the first day, but that the sum of money +taken was not as great as had been hoped. That this was caused by Mr. +Brown's injudicious mode of going to work, there could be no doubt. +He had filled the shelves of the shop with cheap articles for which +he had paid, and had hesitated in giving orders for heavy amounts to +the wholesale houses. Such orders had of course been given, and in +some cases had been given in vain; but quite enough of them had been +honoured to show what might have been done, had there been no +hesitation. "As a man of capital, I must object," he had said to Mr. +Robinson, only a week before the house was opened. "I wish I could +make you understand that you have no capital." "I would I could +divest you of the idea and the money too," said Robinson. But it was +all of no use. A domestic fowl that has passed all its days at a +barn-door can never soar on the eagle's wing. Now Mr. Brown was the +domestic fowl, while the eagle's pinion belonged to his youngest +partner. By whom in that firm the kite was personified, shall not +here be stated.</p> + +<p>Brisket on that day soon left the shop; but as Maryanne Brown +remained there, Robinson did not descend among the throng. There was +no private door to the house, and therefore he was forced to walk out +between the counters when he went to his dinner. On that occasion, he +passed close by Miss Brown, and met that young lady's eye without +quailing. She looked full upon him: and then, turning her face round +to her sister, tittered with an air of scorn.</p> + +<p>"I think he's been very badly used," said Sarah Jane.</p> + +<p>"And who has he got to blame but his own want of spirit?" said the +other. This was spoken in the open shop, and many of the young men +and women heard it. Robinson, however, merely walked on, raising his +hat, and saluting the daughters of the senior partner. But it must be +acknowledged that such remarks as that greatly aggravated the misery +of his position.</p> + +<p>It was on the evening of that day, when he was about to leave the +establishment for the night, that he heard a gentle creeping step on +the stairs, and presently Mrs. Jones presented herself in the room in +which he was sitting. Now if there was any human fellow-creature on +the face of this earth whom George Robinson had brought himself to +hate, that human fellow-creature was Sarah Jane Jones. Jones himself +he despised, but his feeling towards Mrs. Jones was stronger than +contempt. To him it was odious that she should be present in the +house at all, and he had obtained from her father a direct promise +that she should not be allowed to come behind the counters after this +their opening day.</p> + +<p>"George," she said, coming up to him, "I have come upstairs because I +wish to have a few words with you private."</p> + +<p>"Will you take a chair?" said he, placing one for her. One is bound +to be courteous to a lady, even though that lady be a harpy.</p> + +<p>"George," she again began,—she had never called him "George" before, +and he felt himself sorely tempted to tell her that his name was Mr. +Robinson. "George, I've brought myself to look upon you quite as a +brother-in-law, you know."</p> + +<p>"Have you?" said he. "Then you have done me an honour that does not +belong to me,—and never will."</p> + +<p>"Now don't say that, George. If you'll only bring yourself to show a +little more spirit to Maryanne, all will be right yet."</p> + +<p>What was she that she should talk to him about spirit? In these days +there was no subject which was more painful to him than that of +personal courage. He was well aware that he was no coward. He felt +within himself an impulse that would have carried him through any +danger of which the result would not have been ridiculous. He could +have led a forlorn hope, or rescued female weakness from the fangs of +devouring flames. But he had declined,—he acknowledged to himself +that he had declined,—to be mauled by the hands of an angry butcher, +who was twice his size. "One has to keep one's own path in the +world," he had said to himself; "but, nevertheless, one avoids a +chimney-sweeper. Should I have gained anything had I allowed that +huge monster to hammer at me?" So he had argued. But, though he had +thus argued, he had been angry with himself, and now he could not +bear to be told that he had lacked spirit.</p> + +<p>"That is my affair," he replied to her. "But those about me will find +that I do not lack spirit when I find fitting occasion to use it."</p> + +<p>"No; I'm sure they won't. And now's the time, George. You're not +going to let that fellow Brisket run off with Maryanne from before +your eyes."</p> + +<p>"He's at liberty to run anywhere for me."</p> + +<p>"Now, look here, George. I know you're fond of her."</p> + +<p>"No. I was once; but I've torn her from my heart."</p> + +<p>"That's nonsense, George. The fact is, the more she gives herself +airs and makes herself scarce and stiff to you, the more precious you +think her." Ignorant as the woman was of almost everything, she did +know something of human nature.</p> + +<p>"I shall never trouble myself about her again," said he.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, you will; and make her Mrs. Robinson before you've done. +Now, look here, George; that fellow Brisket won't have her, unless he +gets the money."</p> + +<p>"It's nothing to me," said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"And where's the money to come from, if not out of the house? Now, +you and Jones has your rights as partners, and I do hope you and he +won't let the old man make off with the capital of the firm in that +way. If he gives Brisket five hundred pounds,—and there isn't much +more <span class="nowrap">left—"</span></p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what, Mrs. Jones;—he may give Brisket five thousand +pounds as far as I am concerned. Whatever Mr. Brown may do in that +way, I shan't interfere to prevent him."</p> + +<p>"You shan't!"</p> + +<p>"It's his own money, and, as far as George Robinson is +<span class="nowrap">concerned—"</span></p> + +<p>"His own money, and he in partnership with Jones! Not a penny of it +is his own, and so I'll make them understand. As for you, you are the +<span class="nowrap">softest—"</span></p> + +<p>"Never mind me, Mrs. Jones."</p> + +<p>"No; I never will mind you again. Well, to be sure! And you'd stand +by and see the money given away in that way to enable the man you +hate to take away the girl you love! Well, I never—. They did say +you was faint-hearted, but I never thought to see the like of that in +a thing that called itself a man." And so saying, she took herself +off.<br /> </p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table style="margin: 0 auto" cellpadding="1"> + <tr> + <td align="left"> + <p class="noindent"><span class="ind6">—"It cannot be,</span><br /> + But I am pigeon-livered, and lack gall,<br /> + To make oppression bitter,"<br /> </p> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + + +<p class="noindent">said Robinson, rising +from his seat, and slapping his forehead with +his hand; and then he stalked backwards and forwards through the +small room, driven almost to madness by the misery of his position. +"I am not splenetic and rash," he said; "yet have I something in me +dangerous. I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand Briskets could not, with +all their quantities of love, make up my sum."</p> + +<p>At this time Mr. Brown still lived at the house in Smithfield. It was +intended that he should move to Bishopsgate Street as soon as the +upper rooms could be made ready for him, but the works had hitherto +been confined to the shop. On this, the night of the opening day, he +intended to give a little supper to his partners; and Robinson, +having promised to join it, felt himself bound to keep his word. +"Brisket will not be there?" he asked, as he walked across Finsbury +Square with the old man. "Certainly not," said Mr. Brown; "I never +thought of asking him." And yet, when they reached the house, Brisket +was already seated by the fire, superintending the toasting of the +cheese, as though he were one of the family. "It's not my doing, +George; indeed, it's not," whispered Mr. Brown, as they entered the +sitting-room of the family.</p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table style="margin: 0 auto" cellpadding="4px"> + <tr> + <td align="center"> + <a href="images/il3.jpg"> + <img src="images/il3-t.jpg" height="500" + alt="Brisket makes himself useful." /></a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="center"> + <span class="caption">Brisket makes himself useful.<br /> + Click to <a href="images/il3.jpg">ENLARGE</a></span> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + + +<p>That supper-party was terrible to Robinson, but he bore it all +without flinching. Jones and his wife were there, and so also, of +course, was Maryanne. Her he had seen at the moment of his entry, +sitting by with well-pleased face, while her huge lover put butter +and ale into the frying-pan. "Why, Sarah Jane," she said, "I declare +he's quite a man cook. How useful he would be about a house!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, uncommon," said Sarah Jane. "And you mean to try before long, +don't you, Mr. Brisket?"</p> + +<p>"You must ask Maryanne about that," said he, raising his great red +face from the fire, and putting on the airs and graces of a thriving +lover.</p> + +<p>"Don't ask me anything," said Maryanne, "for I won't answer anything. +It's nothing to me what he means to try."</p> + +<p>"Oh, ain't it, though," said Brisket. And then they all sat down to +supper. It may be imagined with what ease Robinson listened to +conversation such as this, and with what appetite he took his seat at +that table.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Robinson, may I give you a little of this cheese?" said +Maryanne. What a story such a question told of the heartlessness, +audacity, and iron nerves of her who asked it! What power, and at the +same time what cruelty, there must have been within that laced +bodice, when she could bring herself to make such an offer!</p> + +<p>"By all means," said Robinson, with equal courage. The morsel was +then put upon his plate, and he swallowed it. "I would he had +poisoned it," said he to himself. "With what delight would I then +partake of the dish, so that he and she partook of it with me!"</p> + +<p>The misery of that supper-party will never be forgotten. Had Brisket +been Adonis himself, he could not have been treated with softer +courtesies by those two harpies; and yet, not an hour ago, Sarah Jane +Jones had been endeavouring to raise a conspiracy against his hopes. +What an ass will a man allow himself to become under such +circumstances! There sat the big butcher, smirking and smiling, ever +and again dipping his unlovely lips into a steaming beaker of +brandy-and-water, regarding himself as triumphant in the courts of +Venus. But that false woman who sat at his side would have sold him +piecemeal for money, as he would have sold the carcase of a sheep.</p> + +<p>"You do not drink, George," said Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"It does not need," said Robinson; and then he took his hat and went +his way.</p> + +<p>On that night he swore to himself that he would abandon her for ever, +and devote himself to commerce and the Muses. It was then that he +composed the opening lines of a poem which may yet make his name +famous wherever the English language is +<span class="nowrap">spoken:—</span><br /> </p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table style="margin: 0 auto" cellpadding="1"> + <tr> + <td align="left"> + <p class="noindent">The golden-eyed son of the Morning + rushed down the wind<br /> + <span class="ind2">like a trumpet,</span><br /> + His azure locks adorning with emeralds fresh from the + ocean.<br /> </p> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + + + +<p><a name="c10" id="c10"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER X.</h3> +<h4>SHOWING HOW THE FIRM INVENTED A NEW SHIRT.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>It has already been said that those four men in armour, on the +production of whom Robinson had especially prided himself, were +dispensed with after the first fortnight. This, no doubt, was brought +about through the parsimony of Mr. Brown, but in doing so he was +aided by a fortuitous circumstance. One of the horses trampled on a +child near the Bank, and then the police and press interfered. At +first the partners were very unhappy about the child, for it was +reported to them that the poor little fellow would die. Mr. Brown +went to see it, and ascertained that the mother knew how to make the +most of the occurrence;—and so, after a day or two, did the firm. +The Jupiter daily newspaper took the matter up, and lashed out +vigorously at what it was pleased to call the wickedness as well as +absurdity of such a system of advertising; but as the little boy was +not killed, nor indeed seriously hurt, the firm was able to make +capital out of the Jupiter, by sending a daily bulletin from Magenta +House as to the state of the child's health. For a week the +newspapers inserted these, and allowed the firm to explain that they +supplied nourishing food, and paid the doctor's bill; but at the end +of the week the editor declined any further correspondence. Mr. Brown +then discontinued his visits; but the child's fortune had been made +by gifts from a generous public, and the whole thing had acted as an +excellent unpaid advertisement. Now, it is well understood by all +trades that any unpaid advertisement is worth twenty that have cost +money.</p> + +<p>In this way the men in armour were put down, but they will be long +remembered by the world of Bishopsgate Street. That they cost money +is certain. "Whatever we do," said Mr. Brown, "don't let's have any +more horses. You see, George, they're always a-eating!" He could not +understand that it was nothing, though the horses had eaten gilded +oats, so long as there were golden returns.</p> + +<p>The men in armour, however, were put down, as also was the car of +Fame. One horse only was left in the service of the firm, and this +was an ancient creature that had for many years belonged to the +butter establishment in Smithfield. By this animal a light but large +wooden frame was dragged about, painted Magenta on its four sides, +and bearing on its various fronts different notices as to the +business of the house. A boy stood uncomfortably in the centre, +driving the slow brute by means of reins which were inserted through +the apertures of two of the letters; through another letter above +there was a third hole for his eyes, and, shut up in this prison, he +was enjoined to keep moving throughout the day. This he did at the +slowest possible pace, and thus he earned five shillings a week. The +arrangement was one made entirely by Mr. Brown, who himself struck +the bargain with the boy's father. Mr. Robinson was much ashamed of +this affair, declaring that it would be better to abstain altogether +from advertising in that line than to do it in so ignoble a manner; +but Mr. Brown would not give way, and the magenta box was dragged +about the streets till it was altogether shattered and in pieces.</p> + +<p>Stockings was the article in which, above all others, Mr. Brown was +desirous of placing his confidence. "George," said he, "all the world +wears stockings; but those who require African monkey muffs are in +comparison few in number. I know Legg and Loosefit of the Poultry, +and I'll purchase a stock." He went to Legg and Loosefit and did +purchase a stock, absolutely laying out a hundred pounds of ready +money for hosiery, and getting as much more on credit. Stockings is +an article on which considerable genius might be displayed by any +house intending to do stockings, and nothing else; but taken up in +this small way by such a firm as that of 81, Bishopsgate Street, it +was simply embarrassing. "Now you can say something true in your +advertisements," said Mr. Brown, with an air of triumph, when the +invoice of the goods arrived.</p> + +<p>"True!" said Robinson. He would not, however, sneer at his partner, +so he retreated to his own room, and went to work. "Stockings!" said +he to himself. "There is no room for ambition in it! But the word +'Hose' does not sound amiss." And then he prepared that small book, +with silk magenta covers and silvery leaves, which he called <i>The New +Miracle!</i><br /> </p> + + +<blockquote> +<p>The whole world wants stockings, [he began, not disdaining to take +his very words from Mr. Brown]—and Brown, Jones, and Robinson are +prepared to supply the whole world with the stockings which they +want. The following is a list of some of the goods which are at +present being removed from the river to the premises at Magenta +House, in Bishopsgate Street. B., J., and R. affix the usual trade +price of the article, and the price at which they are able to offer +them to the public.</p> + +<p>One hundred and twenty baskets of ladies' Spanish hose,—usual price, +1<i>s.</i> 3<i>d.</i>; sold by B., J., and R. +at 9¾<i>d.</i><br /> </p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>"Baskets!" said Mr. Brown, when he read the little book.</p> + +<p>"It's all right," said Robinson. "I have been at the trouble to learn +the trade language."<br /> </p> + + +<blockquote> +<p>Four hundred dozen white cotton hose,—usual price, 1<i>s.</i> +0½<i>d.</i>; +sold by B., J., and R. at 7¼<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>Eight stack of China and pearl silk hose,—usual price, 3<i>s.</i>; sold +by B., J., and R. for 1<i>s.</i> 9¾<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>Fifteen hundred dozen of Balbriggan,—usual price, 1<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i>; sold +by B., J., and R. for 10½<i>d.</i><br /> </p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>It may not, perhaps, be necessary to continue the whole list here; +but as it was read aloud to Mr. Brown, he sat aghast with +astonishment. "George!" said he, at last, "I don't like it. It makes +me quite afeard. It does indeed."</p> + +<p>"And why do you not like it?" said Robinson, quietly laying down the +manuscript, and putting his hand upon it. "Does it want vigour?"</p> + +<p>"No; it does not want vigour."</p> + +<p>"Does it fail to be attractive? Is it commonplace?"</p> + +<p>"It is not that I mean," said Mr. Brown. "But—"</p> + +<p>"Is it not simple? The articles are merely named, with their prices."</p> + +<p>"But, George, we haven't got 'em. We couldn't hold such a quantity. +And if we had them, we should be ruined to sell them at such prices +as that. I did want to do a genuine trade in stockings."</p> + +<p>"And so you shall, sir. But how will you begin unless you attract +your customers?"</p> + +<p>"You have put your prices altogether too low," said Jones. "It stands +to reason you can't sell them for the money. You shouldn't have put +the prices at all;—it hampers one dreadful. You don't know what it +is to stand down there among 'em all, and tell 'em that the cheap +things haven't come."</p> + +<p>"Say that they've all been sold," said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"It's just the same," argued Jones. "I declare last Saturday night I +didn't think my life was safe in the crowd."</p> + +<p>"And who brought that crowd to the house?" demanded Robinson. "Who +has filled the shop below with such a throng of anxious purchasers?"</p> + +<p>"But, George," said Mr. Brown, "I should like to have one of these +bills true, if only that one might show it as a sample when the +people talk to one."</p> + +<p>"True!" said Robinson, again. "You wish that it should be true! In +the first place, did you ever see an advertisement that contained the +truth? If it were as true as heaven, would any one believe it? Was it +ever supposed that any man believed an advertisement? Sit down and +write the truth, and see what it will be! The statement will show +itself of such a nature that you will not dare to publish it. There +is the paper, and there the pen. Take them, and see what you can make +of it."</p> + +<p>"I do think that somebody should be made to believe it," said Jones.</p> + +<p>"You do!" and Robinson, as he spoke, turned angrily at the other. +"Did you ever believe an advertisement?" Jones, in self-defence, +protested that he never had. "And why should others be more simple +than you? No man,—no woman believes them. They are not lies; for it +is not intended that they should obtain credit. I should despise the +man who attempted to base his advertisements on a system of facts, as +I would the builder who lays his foundation upon the sand. The +groundwork of advertising is romance. It is poetry in its very +essence. Is Hamlet true?"</p> + +<p>"I really do not know," said Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"There is no man, to my thinking, so false," continued Robinson, "as +he who in trade professes to be true. He deceives, or endeavours to +do so. I do not. No one will believe that we have fifteen hundred +dozen of Balbriggan."</p> + +<p>"Nobody will," said Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"But yet that statement will have its effect. It will produce custom, +and bring grist to our mill without any dishonesty on our part. +Advertisements are profitable, not because they are believed, but +because they are attractive. Once understand that, and you will cease +to ask for truth." Then he turned himself again to his work and +finished his task without further interruption.</p> + +<p>"You shall sell your stockings, Mr. Brown," he said to the senior +member of the firm, about three days after that.</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I hope so."</p> + +<p>"Look here, sir!" and then he took Mr. Brown to the window. There +stood eight stalwart porters, divided into two parties of four each, +and on their shoulders they bore erect, supported on painted frames, +an enormous pair of gilded, embroidered, brocaded, begartered wooden +stockings. On the massive calves of these was set forth a statement +of the usual kind, declaring that "Brown, Jones, and Robinson, of 81, +Bishopsgate Street, had just received 40,000 pairs of best French +silk ladies' hose direct from Lyons."</p> + +<p>"And now look at the men's legs," said Robinson. Mr. Brown did look, +and perceived that they were dressed in magenta-coloured +knee-breeches, with magenta-coloured stockings. They were gorgeous in +their attire, and at this moment they were starting from the door in +different directions. "Perhaps you will tell me that that is not +true?"</p> + +<p>"I will say nothing about it for the future," said Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"It is not true," continued Robinson; "but it is a work of fiction, +in which I take leave to think that elegance and originality are +combined."</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>"We ought to do something special in shirts," said Jones, a few days +after this. "We could get a few dozen from Hodges, in King Street, +and call them Eureka."</p> + +<p>"Couldn't we have a shirt of our own?" said Mr. Robinson. "Couldn't +you invent a shirt, Mr. Jones?" Jones, as Robinson looked him full in +the face, ran his fingers through his scented hair, and said that he +would consult his wife. Before the day was over, however, the +following notice was already in +<span class="nowrap">type:—</span><br /> </p> + + +<h3><span class="smallcaps">Mankind in a State of Bliss!</span></h3> + +<blockquote><p><span class="smallcaps">Brown, Jones, and Robinson</span> +have sincere pleasure in presenting to the +Fashionable World their new <span class="nonser"><b>KATAKAIRION +SHIRT</b></span>, in which they have +thoroughly overcome the difficulties, hitherto found to be +insurmountable, of adjusting the bodies of the Nobility and Gentry to +an article which shall be at the same time elegant, comfortable, +lasting, and cheap.</p> + +<p>B., J., and R.'s <span class="nonser"><b>KATAKAIRION SHIRT</b></span>, +and their Katakairion Shirt +alone, is acknowledged to unite these qualities.</p> + +<div class="center"> +<p class="noindent">Six Shirts for 39<i>s.</i> 9<i>d.</i></p> +</div> + +<p>The Katakairion Shirt is specially recommended to Officers going to +India and elsewhere, while it is at the same time eminently adapted +for the Home Consumption.<br /> </p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>"I think I would have considered it a little more, before I committed +myself," said Jones.</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes; you would have consulted your wife; as I have not got one, +I must depend on my own wits."</p> + +<p>"And are not likely to have one either," said Jones.</p> + +<p>"Young men, young men," said Mr. Brown, raising his hands +impressively, "if as Christians you cannot agree, at any rate you are +bound to do so as partners. What is it that the Psalmist says, 'Let +dogs delight, to bark and bite—.'"</p> + +<p>The notice as to the Katakairion shirt was printed on that day, as +originally drawn out by Robinson, and very widely circulated on the +two or three following mornings. A brisk demand ensued, and it was +found that Hodges, the wholesale manufacturer, of King Street, was +able to supply the firm with an article which, when sold at 39<i>s.</i> +6<i>d.</i>, left a comfortable profit.</p> + +<p>"I told you that we ought to do something special in shirts," said +Jones, as though the whole merit of the transaction were his own.</p> + +<p>Gloves was another article to which considerable attention was +<span class="nowrap">given;—</span><br /> </p> + + +<blockquote> +<p><span class="smallcaps">Brown, Jones, and Robinson</span> +have made special arrangements with the +glove manufacturers of Worcestershire, and are now enabled to offer +to the public English-sewn Worcester gloves, made of French kid, at a +price altogether out of the reach of any other house in the trade.</p> + +<p>B., J., and R. boldly defy competition.<br /> </p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>When that notice was put up in front of the house, none of the firm +expected that any one would believe in their arrangement with the +Worcestershire glove-makers. They had no such hope, and no such wish. +What gloves they sold, they got from the wholesale houses in St. +Paul's Churchyard, quite indifferent as to the county in which they +were sewn, or the kingdom from which they came. Nevertheless, the +plan answered, and a trade in gloves was created.</p> + +<p>But perhaps the pretty little dialogues which were circulated about +the town, did more than anything else to make the house generally +known to mothers and their families.<br /> </p> + + +<blockquote> +<p>"Mamma, mamma, I have seen such a beautiful sight!"<br /> </p> +</blockquote> + + +<p class="noindent">one of them began.<br /> </p> + + +<blockquote> +<p>"My dearest daughter, what was it?"</p> + +<p>"I was walking home through the City, with my kind cousin Augustus, +and he took me to that wonderfully handsome and extraordinarily large +new shop, just opened by those enterprising men, Brown, Jones, and +Robinson, at No. 81, Bishopsgate Street. They call it 'Nine Times +Nine, or Magenta House.'"</p> + +<p>"My dearest daughter, you may well call it wonderful. It is the +wonder of the age. Brown, Jones, and Robinson sell everything; but +not only that,—they sell everything good; and not only that—they +sell everything cheap. Whenever your wants induce you to make +purchases, you may always be sure of receiving full value for your +money at the house of Brown, Jones, and Robinson."<br /> </p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>In this way, by efforts such as these, which were never allowed to +flag for a single hour,—by a continued series of original +composition which, as regards variety and striking incidents, was, +perhaps, never surpassed,—a great and stirring trade was established +within six months of the opening day. By this time Mr. Brown had +learned to be silent on the subject of advertising, and had been +brought to confess, more than once, that the subject was beyond his +comprehension.</p> + +<p>"I am an old man, George," he said once, "and all this seems to be +new."</p> + +<p>"If it be not new, it is nothing," answered Robinson.</p> + +<p>"I don't understand it," continued the old man; "I don't pretend to +understand it; I only hope that it's right."</p> + +<p>The conduct which Jones was disposed to pursue gave much more +trouble. He was willing enough to allow Robinson to have his own way, +and to advertise in any shape or manner, but he was desirous of +himself doing the same thing. It need hardly be pointed out here that +this was a branch of trade for which he was peculiarly unsuited, and +that his productions would be stale, inadequate, and unattractive. +Nevertheless, he persevered, and it was only by direct interference +at the printer's, that the publication of documents was prevented +which would have been fatal to the interests of the firm.</p> + +<p>"Do I meddle with you in the shop?" Robinson would say to him.</p> + +<p>"You haven't the personal advantages which are required for meeting +the public," Jones would answer.</p> + +<p>"Nor have you the mental advantages without which original +composition is impossible."</p> + +<p>In spite of all these difficulties a considerable trade was +established within six months, and the shop was usually crowded. As a +drawback to this, the bills at the printer's and at the stationer's +had become very heavy, and Robinson was afraid to disclose their +amount to his senior partner. But nevertheless he persevered. "Faint +heart never won fair lady," he repeated to himself, over and over +again,—the fair lady for whom his heart sighed being at this time +Commercial Success.</p> + +<p><i>Vestigia Nulla Retrorsum.</i> That should be the motto of the house. He +failed, however, altogether in making it intelligible to Mr. Brown.</p> + + +<p><a name="c11" id="c11"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER XI.</h3> +<h4>JOHNSON OF MANCHESTER.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>It was about eight months after the business had been opened that a +circumstance took place which gave to the firm a reputation which for +some few days was absolutely metropolitan. The affair was at first +fortuitous, but advantage was very promptly taken of all that +occurred; no chance was allowed to pass by unimproved; and there was, +perhaps, as much genuine talent displayed in the matter as though the +whole had been designed from the beginning. The transaction was the +more important as it once more brought Mr. Robinson and Maryanne +Brown together, and very nearly effected a union between them. It was +not, however, written in the book that such a marriage should ever be +celebrated, and the renewal of love which for a time gave such +pleasure to the young lady's father, had no other effect than that of +making them in their subsequent quarrels more bitter than ever to +each other.</p> + +<p>It was about midwinter when the circumstances now about to be +narrated took place. Mr. Brown had gone down to the neighbourhood of +Manchester for the purpose of making certain bonâ fide purchases of +coloured prints, and had there come to terms with a dealer. At this +time there was a strike among the factories, and the goods became +somewhat more scarce in the market, and, therefore, a trifle dearer +than was ordinarily the case. From this arose the fact that the +agreement made with Mr. Brown was not kept by the Lancashire house, +and that the firm in Bishopsgate was really subjected to a certain +amount of commercial ill-treatment.</p> + +<p>"It is a cruel shame," said Mr. Brown—"a very cruel shame; when a +party in trade has undertaken a transaction with another party, no +consideration should hinder that party from being as good as his +word. A tradesman's word should be his bond." This purchase down +among the factories had been his own special work, and he had been +proud of it. He was, moreover, a man who could ill tolerate any +ill-usage from others. "Can't we do anything to 'em, George? Can't we +make 'em bankrupts?"</p> + +<p>"If we could, what good would that do us?" said Robinson. "We must +put up with it."</p> + +<p>"I'd bring an action against them," said Jones.</p> + +<p>"And spend thirty or forty pounds with the lawyers," said Robinson. +"No; we will not be such fools as that. But we might advertise the +injury."</p> + +<p>"Advertise the injury," said Mr. Brown, with his eyes wide open. By +this time he had begun to understand that the depth of his partner's +finesse was not to be fathomed by his own unaided intelligence.</p> + +<p>"And spend as much money in that as with the lawyers," said Jones.</p> + +<p>"Probably more," said Robinson, very calmly. "We promised the public +in our last week's circular that we should have these goods."</p> + +<p>"Of course we did," said Mr. Brown; "and now the public will be +deceived!" And he lifted up his hands in horror at the thought.</p> + +<p>"We'll advertise it," said Robinson again; and then for some short +space he sat with his head resting on his hands. "Yes, we'll +advertise it. Leave me for awhile, that I may compose the notices."</p> + +<p>Mr. Brown, after gazing at him for a moment with a countenance on +which wonder and admiration were strongly written, touched his other +partner on the arm, and led him from the room.</p> + +<p>The following day was Saturday, which at Magenta House was always the +busiest day of the week. At about four o'clock in the afternoon the +shop would become thronged, and from that hour up to ten at night +nearly as much money was taken as during all the week besides. On +that Saturday at about noon the following words were to be read at +each of the large sheets of glass in the front of the house. They +were printed, of course, on magenta paper, and the corners and +margins were tastefully +<span class="nowrap">decorated:—</span><br /> </p> + + +<blockquote> +<p>Brown, Jones, and Robinson, having been greatly deceived by Johnson +of Manchester, are not able to submit to the public the 40,000 new +specimens of English prints, as they had engaged to do, on this day. +But they beg to assure their customers and the public in general that +they will shortly do so, however tremendous may be the +sacrifice.<br /> </p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>"But it was Staleybridge," said Mr. Brown, "and the man's name was +Pawkins."</p> + +<p>"And you would have me put up 'Pawkins of Staleybridge,' and thus +render the firm liable to an indictment for libel? Are not Pawkins +and Johnson all the same to the public?"</p> + +<p>"But there is sure to be some Johnson at Manchester."</p> + +<p>"There are probably ten, and therefore no man can say that he is +meant. I ascertained that there were three before I ventured on the +name."</p> + +<p>On that afternoon some trifling sensation was created in Bishopsgate +Street, and a few loungers were always on the pavement reading the +notice. Robinson went out from time to time, and heard men as they +passed talking of Johnson of Manchester. "It will do," said he. "You +will see that it will do. By seven o'clock on next Saturday evening I +will have the shop so crowded that women who are in shall be unable +to get out again."</p> + +<p>That notice remained up on Saturday evening, and till twelve on +Monday, at which hour it was replaced by the +<span class="nowrap">following:—</span><br /> </p> + + +<blockquote> +<p>Johnson of Manchester has proved himself utterly unable to meet his +engagement. The public of the metropolis, however, may feel quite +confident that Brown, Jones, and Robinson will not allow any +provincial manufacturer to practise such dishonesty on the City with +impunity.<br /> </p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>The concourse of persons outside then became much greater, and an +audible hum of voices not unfrequently reached the ears of those +within. During this trying week Mr. Jones, it must be acknowledged, +did not play his part badly. It had come home to him in some manner +that this peculiar period was of vital importance to the house, and +on each day he came down to business dressed in his very best. It was +pleasant to see him as he stood at the door, shining with bear's +grease, loaded with gilt chains, glittering with rings, with the +lappets of his coat thrown back so as to show his frilled shirt and +satin waistcoat. There he stood, rubbing his hands and looking out +upon the people as though he scorned to notice them. As regards +intellect, mind, apprehension, there was nothing to be found in the +personal appearance of Jones, but he certainly possessed an amount of +animal good looks which had its weight with weak-minded females.</p> + +<p>The second notice was considered sufficient to attract notice on +Monday and Tuesday. On the latter day it became manifest that the +conduct of Johnson of Manchester had grown to be matter of public +interest, and the firm was aware that persons from a distance were +congregating in Bishopsgate Street, in order that they might see with +their own eyes the notices at Magenta House.</p> + +<p>Early on the Wednesday, the third of the series appeared. It was very +short, and ran as +<span class="nowrap">follows:—</span><br /> </p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table style="margin: 0 auto" cellpadding="1" width="100%"> + <tr> + <td align="center"> + Johnson of Manchester is off!<br /> + <br/> + The police are on his track!<br /> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + + +<p>This exciting piece of news was greedily welcomed by the walking +public, and a real crowd had congregated on the pavement by noon. A +little after that time, while Mr. Brown was still at dinner with his +daughter upstairs, a policeman called and begged to see some member +of the firm. Jones, whose timidity was overwhelming, immediately sent +for Mr. Brown; and he, also embarrassed, knocked at the door of Mr. +Robinson's little room, and asked for counsel.</p> + +<p>"The Peelers are here, George," he said. "I knew there'd be a row."</p> + +<p>"I hope so," said Robinson; "I most sincerely hope so."</p> + +<p>As he stood up to answer his senior partner he saw that Miss Brown +was standing behind her father, and he resolved that, as regarded +this occasion, he would not be taunted with want of spirit.</p> + +<p>"But what shall I say to the man?" asked Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"Give him a shilling and a glass of spirits; beg him to keep the +people quiet outside, and promise him cold beef and beer at three +o'clock. If he runs rusty, send for me." And then, having thus +instructed the head of the house, he again seated himself before his +writing materials at the table.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Robinson," said a soft voice, speaking to him through the +doorway, as soon as the ponderous step of the old man was heard +descending the stairs.</p> + +<p>"Yes; I am here," said he.</p> + +<p>"I don't know whether I may open the door," said she; "for I would +not for worlds intrude upon your studies."</p> + +<p>He knew that she was a Harpy. He knew that her soft words would only +bring him to new grief. But yet he could not help himself. Strong, in +so much else, he was utterly weak in her hands. She was a Harpy who +would claw out his heart and feed upon it, without one tender feeling +of her own. He had learned to read her character, and to know her for +what she was. But yet he could not help himself.</p> + +<p>"There will be no intrusion," he said. "In half an hour from this +time, I go with this copy to the printer's. Till then I am at rest."</p> + +<p>"At rest!" said she. "How sweet it must be to rest after labours such +as yours! Though you and I are two, Mr. Robinson, who was once one, +still I hear of you, and—sometimes think of you."</p> + +<p>"I am surprised that you should turn your thoughts to anything so +insignificant," he replied.</p> + +<p>"Ah! that is so like you. You are so scornful, and so proud,—and +never so proud as when pretending to be humble. I sometimes think +that it is better that you and I are two, because you are so proud. +What could a poor girl like me have done to satisfy you?"</p> + +<p>False and cruel that she was! 'Tis thus that the basilisk charms the +poor bird that falls a victim into its jaws.</p> + +<p>"It is better that we should have parted," said he. "Though I still +love you with my whole heart, I know that it is better."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mr. Robinson!"</p> + +<p>"And I would that your nuptials with that man in Aldersgate Street +were already celebrated."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you cruel, heartless man!"</p> + +<p>"For then I should be able to rest. If you were once another's, I +should then <span class="nowrap">know—"</span></p> + +<p>"You would know what, Mr. Robinson?"</p> + +<p>"That you could never be mine. Maryanne!"</p> + +<p>"Sir!"</p> + +<p>"If you would not have me disgrace myself for ever by my folly, leave +me now."</p> + +<p>"Disgrace yourself! I'm sure you'll never do that. 'Whatever happens +George Robinson will always act the gentleman,' I have said of you, +times after times, both to father and to William Brisket. 'So he +will!' father has answered. And then William Brisket has said—; I +don't know whether I ought to tell you what he said. But what he said +was this—'If you're so fond of the fellow, why don't you have him?'"</p> + +<p>All this was false, and Robinson knew that it was false. No such +conversation had ever passed. Nevertheless, the pulses of his heart +were stirred.</p> + +<p>"Tell me this," said he. "Are you his promised wife?"</p> + +<p>"Laws, Mr. Robinson!"</p> + +<p>"Answer me honestly, if you can. Is that man to be your husband? If +it be so it will be well for him, and well for you, but, above all, +it will be well for me, that we should part. And if it be so, why +have you come hither to torment me?"</p> + +<p>"To torment you, George!"</p> + +<p>"Yes; to torment me!" And then he rose suddenly from his feet, and +advanced with rapid step and fierce gesture towards the astonished +girl. "Think you that love such as mine is no torment? Think you that +I have no heart, no feeling; that this passion which tears me in +pieces can exist without throwing a cloud upon my life? With you, as +I know too well, all is calm and tranquil. Your bosom boils with no +ferment. It has never boiled. It will never boil. It can never boil. +It is better for you so. You will marry that man, whose house is +good, and whose furniture has been paid for. From his shop will come +to you your daily meals,—and you will be happy. Man wants but little +here below, nor wants that little long. Adieu."</p> + +<p>"Oh, George, are you going so?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; I am going. Why should I stay? Did I not with my own hand in +this room renounce you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; you did, George. You did renounce me, and that's what's killing +me. So it is,—killing me." Then she threw herself into a chair and +buried her face in her handkerchief.</p> + +<p>"Would that we could all die," he said, "and that everything should +end. But now I go to the printer's. Adieu, Maryanne."</p> + +<p>"But we shall see each other occasionally,—as friends?"</p> + +<p>"To what purpose? No; certainly not as friends. To me such a trial +would be beyond my strength." And then he seized the copy from the +table, and taking his hat from the peg, he hurried out of the room.</p> + +<p>"As William is so stiff about the money, I don't know whether it +wouldn't be best after all," said she, as she took herself back to +her father's apartments.</p> + +<p>Mr. Brown, when he met the policeman, found that that excellent +officer was open to reason, and that when properly addressed he did +not actually insist on the withdrawal of the notice from the window. +"Every man's house is his castle, you know," said Mr. Brown. To this +the policeman demurred, suggesting that the law quoted did not refer +to crowded thoroughfares. But when invited to a collation at three +o'clock, he remarked that he might as well abstain from action till +that hour, and that he would in the meantime confine his beat to the +close vicinity of Magenta House. A friendly arrangement grew out of +this, which for awhile was convenient to both parties, and two +policemen remained in the front of the house, and occasionally +entered the premises in search of refreshment.</p> + +<p>After breakfast on the Thursday the fourth notice was put +<span class="nowrap">up:—</span><br /> </p> + + +<blockquote> +<p>The public of London will be glad to learn that Brown, Jones, and +Robinson have recovered the greatest part of their paper which was in +the hands of Johnson of Manchester. Bills to the amount of fifteen +thousand pounds are, however, still missing.<br /> </p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>It was immediately after this that the second policeman was +considered to be essentially necessary. The whole house, including +the young men and women of the shop, were animated with an enthusiasm +which spread itself even to the light porter of the establishment. +The conduct of Johnson, and his probable fate, were discussed aloud +among those who believed in him, while they who were incredulous +communicated their want of faith to each other in whispers. Mr. Brown +was smiling, affable, and happy; and Jones arrived on the Friday +morning with a new set of torquoise studs in his shirt. Why men and +women should have come to the house for gloves, stockings, and +ribbons, because Johnson of Manchester was said to have run away, it +may be difficult to explain. But such undoubtedly was the fact, and +the sales during that week were so great, as to make it seem that +actual commercial prosperity was at hand.</p> + +<p>"If we could only keep up the ball!" said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"Couldn't we change it to Tomkins of Leeds next week?" suggested +Jones.</p> + +<p>"I rather fear that the joke might be thought stale," replied +Robinson, with a good-natured smile. "There is nothing so fickle as +the taste of the public. The most popular author of the day can never +count on favour for the next six months." And he bethought himself +that, great as he was at the present moment, he also might be +eclipsed, and perhaps forgotten, before the posters which he was then +preparing had been torn down or become soiled.</p> + +<p>On the Friday no less than four letters appeared in the daily +Jupiter, all dated from Manchester, all signed by men of the name of +Johnson, and all denying that the writer of that special letter had +had any dealings whatever with Brown, Jones, and Robinson, of +Bishopsgate Street, London. There was "Johnson Brothers," "Johnson +and Co.," "Alfred Johnson and Son," and "Johnson and Johnson;" and in +one of those letters a suggestion was made that B., J., and R., of +London, should state plainly who was the special Johnson that had +gone off with the paper belonging to their house.</p> + +<p>"I know we shall be detected," said Mr. Brown, upon whose feelings +these letters did not act favourably.</p> + +<p>"There is nothing to detect," said Robinson; "but I will write a +letter to the editor."</p> + +<p>This he did, stating that for reasons which must be quite obvious to +the commercial reading public, it would be very unwise in the present +state of affairs to give any detailed description of that Mr. Johnson +who had been named; but that B., J., and R. were very happy to be +able to certify that that Mr. Johnson who had failed in his +engagements to them was connected neither with Johnson Brothers, or +Johnson and Co.; nor with Alfred Johnson and Son, or Johnson and +Johnson. This also acted as an advertisement, and no doubt brought +grist to the mill.</p> + +<p>On the evening of that same Friday a small note in a scented envelope +was found by Robinson on his table when he returned upstairs from the +shop. Well did he know the handwriting, and often in earlier days had +he opened such notes with mixed feelings of joy and triumph. All +those past letters had been kept by him, and were now lying under +lock and key in his desk, tied together with green silk, ready to be +returned when the absolute fact of that other marriage should have +become a certainty. He half made up his mind to return the present +missive unopened. He knew that good could not arise from a renewed +correspondence. Nevertheless, he tore asunder the envelope, and the +words which met his eye were as +<span class="nowrap">follows:—</span><br /> </p> + + +<blockquote> +<p>Miss Brown's compliments to Mr. Robinson, and will Mr. Robinson tea +with us in papa's room on Saturday, at six o'clock? There will be +nobody else but Mr. and Mrs. Poppins, that used to be Miss Twizzle. +Papa, perhaps, will have to go back to the shop when he's done tea. +Miss Brown hopes Mr. Robinson will remember old days, and not make +himself scornful.<br /> </p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>"Scornful!" said he. "Ha! ha! Yes; I scorn her;—I do scorn her. But +still I love her." Then he sat down and accepted the invitation.<br /> </p> + + +<blockquote> +<p>Mr. Robinson presents his compliments to Miss Brown, and will do +himself the honour of accepting her kind invitation for to-morrow +evening. Mr. Robinson begs to assure Miss Brown that he would have +great pleasure in meeting any of Miss Brown's friends whom she might +choose to ask.<br /> </p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>"Psha!" said Maryanne, when she read it. "It would serve him right to +ask Bill. And I would, too, +<span class="nowrap">only—."</span> Only it would hardly have +answered her purpose, she might have said, had she spoken out her +mind freely.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the interest as to Johnson of Manchester was reaching +its climax. At ten o'clock on Saturday morning each division of the +window was nearly covered by an enormous bill, on which in very large +letters it was stated +<span class="nowrap">that—</span><br /> </p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table style="margin: 0 auto" cellpadding="1" width="100%"> + <tr> + <td align="center"> + Johnson of Manchester has been taken.<br /> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + + +<p>From that till twelve the shop was inundated by persons who were bent +on learning what was the appearance and likeness of Johnson. +Photographers came to inquire in what gaol he was at present held, +and a man who casts heads in plaster of Paris was very intent upon +seeing him. No information could, of course, be given by the men and +women behind the counters. Among them there was at present raging a +violent discussion as to the existence or non-existence of Johnson. +It was pleasant to hear Jones repeating the circumstances to the +senior partner. "Mr. Brown, there's Miss Glassbrook gone over to the +anti-Johnsonites. I think we ought to give her a month's notice." To +those who inquired of Mr. Brown himself, he merely lifted up his +hands and shook his head. Jones professed that he believed the man to +be in the underground cells of Newgate.</p> + +<p>The bill respecting Johnson's capture remained up for two hours, and +then it was exchanged for +<span class="nowrap">another;—</span><br /> </p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table style="margin: 0 auto" cellpadding="1"> + <tr> + <td align="left"> + <p class="noindent">Johnson has escaped, but no expense<br /> + shall be spared in his recapture.<br /> </p> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + + +<p class="noindent">At four in the afternoon the public was +informed as <span class="nowrap">follows;—</span><br /> </p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table style="margin: 0 auto" cellpadding="1"> + <tr> + <td align="left"> + <p class="noindent">Johnson has got off, and sailed + for America.<br /> </p> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + + +<p class="noindent">And then there was one other, +which closed the play late on Saturday +<span class="nowrap">evening;—</span><br /> </p> + + +<blockquote> +<p>Brown, Jones, and Robinson beg to assure the public that they shall +be put out of all suspense early on Monday morning.<br /> </p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>"And what shall we really say to them on Monday?" asked Mr. Jones.</p> + +<p>"Nothing at all," replied Mr. Robinson. "The thing will be dead by +that time. If they call, say that he's in Canada."</p> + +<p>"And won't there be any more about it?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing, I should think. We, however, have gained our object. The +house will be remembered, and so will the name of Brown, Jones, and +Robinson."</p> + +<p>And it was so. When the Monday morning came the windows were without +special notices, and the world walked by in silence, as though +Johnson of Manchester had never existed. Some few eager inquirers +called at the shop, but they were answered easily; and before the +afternoon the name had almost died away behind the counters. "I knew +I was right," said Miss Glassbrook, and Mr. Jones heard her say so.</p> + +<p>In and about the shop Johnson of Manchester was heard of no more, but +in Mr. Brown's own family there was still a certain interest attached +to the name. How it came about that this was so, shall be told in the +next chapter.</p> + + +<p><a name="c12" id="c12"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER XII.</h3> +<h4>SAMSON AND DELILAH.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>In the commercial world of London there was one man who was really +anxious to know what were the actual facts of the case with reference +to Johnson of Manchester. This was Mr. William Brisket, whose mind at +this time was perplexed by grievous doubts. He was called upon to act +in a case of great emergency, and was by no means sure that he saw +his way. It had been hinted to him by Miss Brown, on the one side, +that it behoved her to look to herself, and take her pigs to market +without any more shilly-shallying,—by which expression the fair girl +had intended to signify that it would suit her now to name her +wedding-day. And he had been informed by Mr. Brown, on the other +side, that that sum of five hundred pounds should be now +forthcoming;—or, if not actually the money, Mr. Brown's promissory +note at six months should be handed to him, dated from the day of his +marriage with Maryanne.</p> + +<p>Under these circumstances, he did not see his way. That the house in +Bishopsgate Street was doing a large business he did not doubt. He +visited the place often, and usually found the shop crowded. But he +did doubt whether that business was very lucrative. It might be that +the whole thing was a bubble, and that it would be burst before that +bill should have been honoured. In such case, he would have saddled +himself with an empty-handed wife, and would decidedly not have seen +his way. In this emergency he went to Jones and asked his advice. +Jones told him confidentially that, though the bill of the firm for +five thousand pounds would be as good as paper from the Bank of +England, the bill of Mr. Brown himself as an individual would be +worth nothing.</p> + +<p>Although Mr. Brisket had gone to Jones as a friend, there had been +some very sharp words between them before they separated. Brisket +knew well enough that all the ready money at the command of the firm +had belonged to Mr. Brown, and he now took upon himself to say that +Maryanne had a right to her share. Jones replied that there was no +longer anything to share, and that Maryanne's future husband must +wait for her fortune till her father could pay it out of his income. +"I couldn't see my way like that; not at all," said Brisket. And then +there had been high words between them.</p> + +<p>It was at this time that the first act of Johnson of Manchester's +little comedy was being played, and people in Mr. Brisket's world +were beginning to talk about the matter. "They must be doing a deal +of trade," said one. "Believe me, it is all flash and sham," said +another. "I happen to know that old Brown did go down to Manchester +and see Johnson there," said the first. "There is no such person at +all," said the second. So this went on till Mr. Brisket resolved that +his immediate matrimony should depend on the reality of Johnson's +existence. If it should appear that Johnson, with all his paper, was +a false meteor; that no one had deceived the metropolitan public; +that no one had been taken and had then escaped, he would tell Miss +Brown that he did not see his way. The light of his intelligence told +him that promissory notes from such a source, even though signed by +all the firm, would be illusory. If, on the other hand, Johnson of +Manchester had been taken, then, he thought, he might accept the +bill—and wife.</p> + +<p>"Maryanne," he said to the young lady early on that day on which she +had afterwards had her interview with Robinson, "what's all this +about Johnson of Manchester?"</p> + +<p>"I know nothing about your Johnsons, nor yet about your Manchester," +said Miss Brown, standing with her back to her lover. At this time +she was waxing wroth with him, and had learned to hate his voice, +when he would tell her that he had not yet seen his way.</p> + +<p>"That's all very well, Maryanne; but I must know something before I +go on."</p> + +<p>"Who wants you to go on? Not I, I'm sure; nor anybody belonging to +me. If I do hate anything, it's them mercenary ways. There's one who +really loves me, who'd be above asking for a shilling, if I'd only +put out my hand to him."</p> + +<p>"If you say that again, Maryanne, I'll punch his head."</p> + +<p>"You're always talking of punching people's heads; but I don't see +you do so much. I shouldn't wonder if you don't want to punch my head +some of these days."</p> + +<p>"Maryanne, I never riz a hand to a woman yet."</p> + +<p>"And you'd better not, as far as I'm concerned,—not as long as the +pokers and tongs are about." And then there was silence between them +for awhile.</p> + +<p>"Maryanne," he began again, "can't you find out about this Johnson?"</p> + +<p>"No; I can't," said she.</p> + +<p>"You'd better."</p> + +<p>"Then I won't," said she.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what it is, then, Maryanne. I don't see my way the +least in life about this money."</p> + +<p>"Drat your way! Who cares about your way?"</p> + +<p>"That's all very fine, Maryanne; but I care. I'm a man as is as good +as my word, and always was. I defy Brown, Jones, and Robinson to say +that I'm off, carrying anybody's paper. And as for paper, it's a +thing as I knows nothing about, and never wish. When a man comes to +paper, it seems to me there's a very thin wall betwixt him and the +gutter. When I buys a score of sheep or so, I pays for them down; and +when I sells a leg of mutton, I expects no less myself. I don't owe a +shilling to no one, and don't mean; and the less that any one owes +me, the better I like it. But Maryanne, when a man trades in that +way, a man must see his way. If he goes about in the dark, or with +his eyes shut, he's safe to get a fall. Now about this five hundred +pound; if I could only see my +<span class="nowrap">way—."</span></p> + +<p>As to the good sense of Mr. Brisket's remarks, there was no +difference of opinion between him and his intended wife. Miss Brown +would at that time have been quite contented to enter into +partnership for life on those terms. And though these memoirs are +written with the express view of advocating a theory of trade founded +on quite a different basis, nevertheless, it may be admitted that Mr. +Brisket's view of commerce has its charms, presuming that a man has +the wherewithal. But such a view is apt to lose its charms in female +eyes if it be insisted on too often, or too violently. Maryanne had +long since given in her adhesion to Mr. Brisket's theory; but now, +weary with repetition of the lesson, she was disposed to rebel.</p> + +<p>"Now, William Brisket," she said, "just listen to me. If you talk to +me again about seeing your way, you may go and see it by yourself. +I'm not so badly off that I'm going to have myself twitted at in that +way. If you don't like me, you can do the other thing. And this I +will say, when a gentleman has spoken his mind free to a lady, and a +lady has given her answer free back to him, it's a very mean thing +for a gentleman to be saying so much about money after that. Of +course, a girl has got herself to look to; and if I take up with you, +why, of course, I have to say, 'Stand off,' to any other young man as +may wish to keep me company. Now, there's one as shall be nameless +that wouldn't demean himself to say a word about money."</p> + +<p>"Because he ain't got none himself, as I take it."</p> + +<p>"He's a partner in a first-rate commercial firm. And I'll tell you +what, William Brisket, I'll not hear a word said against him, and +I'll not be put upon myself. So now I wishes you good morning." And +so she left him.</p> + +<p>Brisket, when he was alone, scratched his head, and thought wistfully +of his love. "I should like to see my way," said he. "I always did +like to see my way. And as for that old man's bit of +<span class="nowrap">paper—"</span> Then he +relapsed once again into silence.</p> + +<p>It was within an hour of all this that Maryanne had followed her +father to George Robinson's room. She had declared her utter +indifference as to Johnson of Manchester; but yet it might, perhaps, +be as well that she should learn the truth. From her father she had +tried to get it, but he had succeeded in keeping her in the dark. To +Jones it would be impossible that she should apply; but from Robinson +she might succeed in obtaining his secret. She had heard, no doubt, +of Samson and Delilah, and thought she knew the way to the strong +man's locks. And might it not be well for her to forget that other +Samson, and once more to trust herself to her father's partner? When +she weighed the two young tradesmen one against the other, balancing +their claims with such judgment as she possessed, she doubted much as +to her choice. She thought that she might be happy with either;—but +then it was necessary that the other dear charmer should be away. As +to Robinson, he would marry her, she knew, at once, without any +stipulations. As to Brisket,—if Brisket should be her ultimate +choice,—it would be necessary that she should either worry her +father out of the money, or else cheat her lover into the belief that +the money would be forthcoming. Having taken all these circumstances +into consideration, she invited Mr. Robinson to tea.</p> + +<p>Mr. Brown was there, of course, and so also were Mr. and Mrs. +Poppins. When Robinson entered, they were already at the tea-table, +and the great demerits of Johnson of Manchester were under +discussion.</p> + +<p>"Now Mr. Robinson will tell us everything," said Mrs. Poppins. "It's +about Johnson, you know. Where has he gone to, Mr. Robinson?" But +Robinson professed that he did not know.</p> + +<p>"He knows well enough," said Maryanne, "only he's so close. Now do +tell us."</p> + +<p>"He'll tell <i>you</i> anything <i>you</i> choose to ask him," said Mrs. +Poppins.</p> + +<p>"Tell me anything! Not him, indeed. What does he care for me?"</p> + +<p>"I'm sure he would if he only knew what you were saying before he +came into the room."</p> + +<p>"Now don't, Polly!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, but I shall! because it's better he should know."</p> + +<p>"Now, Polly, if you don't hold your tongue, I'll be angry! Mr. +Robinson is nothing to me, and never will be, I'm sure. Only if he'd +do me the favour, as a friend, to tell us about Mr. Johnson, I'd take +it kind of him."</p> + +<p>In the meantime Mr. Brown and his young married guest were discussing +things commercial on their own side of the room, and Poppins, also, +was not without a hope that he might learn the secret. Poppins had +rather despised the firm at first, as not a few others had done, +distrusting all their earlier assurances as to trade bargains, and +having been even unmoved by the men in armour. But the great affair +of Johnson of Manchester had overcome even his doubts, and he began +to feel that it was a privilege to be noticed by the senior partner +in a house which could play such a game as that. It was not that +Poppins believed in Johnson, or that he thought that 15,000<i>l.</i> of +paper had at any time been missing. But, nevertheless, the proceeding +had affected his mind favourably with reference to Brown, Jones, and +Robinson, and brought it about that he now respected them,—and, +perhaps, feared them a little, though he had not respected or feared +them heretofore. Had he been the possessor of a wholesale house of +business, he would not now have dared to refuse them goods on credit, +though he would have done so before Johnson of Manchester had become +known to the world. It may therefore be surmised that George Robinson +had been right, and that he had understood the ways of British trade +when he composed the Johnsonian drama.</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I'd rather not, Mr. Poppins," said Mr. Brown. "Secrets in +trade should be secrets. And though Mr. Johnson has done us a deal of +mischief, we don't want to expose him."</p> + +<p>"But you've been exposing him ever so long," pleaded Poppins.</p> + +<p>"Now Poppins," said that gentleman's wife, "don't you be troubling +Mr. Brown. He's got other things to think of than answering your +questions. I should like to know myself, I own, because all the +town's talking about it. And it does seem odd to me that Maryanne +shouldn't know."</p> + +<p>"I don't, then," said Maryanne. "And I do think when a lady asks a +gentleman, the least thing a gentleman can do is to tell. But I +shan't ask no more,—not of Mr. Robinson. I was thinking—. But never +mind, Polly. Perhaps it's best as it is."</p> + +<p>"Would you have me betray my trust?" said Robinson. "Would you esteem +me the more because I had deceived my partners? If you think that I +am to earn your love in that way, you know but little of George +Robinson." Then he got up, preparing to leave the room, for his +feelings were too many for him.</p> + +<p>"Stop, George, stop," said Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"Let him go," said Maryanne.</p> + +<p>"If he goes away now I shall think him as hard as Adam," said Mrs. +Poppins.</p> + +<p>"There's three to one again him," said Mr. Poppins to himself. "What +chance can he have?" Mr. Poppins may probably have gone through some +such phase of life himself.</p> + +<p>"Let him go," said Maryanne again. "I wish he would. And then let him +never show himself here again."</p> + +<p>"George Robinson, my son, my son!" exclaimed the old man.</p> + +<p>It must be understood that Robinson had heard all this, though he had +left the room. Indeed, it may be surmised that had he been out of +hearing the words would not have been spoken. He heard them, for he +was still standing immediately beyond the door, and was irresolute +whether he would depart or whether he would return.</p> + +<p>"George Robinson, my son, my son!" exclaimed the old man again.</p> + +<p>"He shall come back!" said Mrs. Poppins, following him out of the +door. "He shall come back, though I have to carry him myself."</p> + +<p>"Polly," said Maryanne, "if you so much as whisper a word to ask him, +I'll never speak to you the longest day you have to live."</p> + +<p>But the threat was thrown away upon Mrs. Poppins, and, under her +auspices, Robinson was brought back into the room. "Maryanne," said +he, "will you renounce William Brisket?"</p> + +<p>"Laws, George!" said she.</p> + +<p>"Of course she will," said Mrs. Poppins, "and all the pomps and +vanities besides."</p> + +<p>"My son, my son!" said old Brown, lifting up both his hands. "My +daughter, my daughter! My children, my children!" And then he joined +their hands together and blessed them.</p> + +<p>He blessed them, and then went down into the shop. But before the +evening was over, Delilah had shorn Samson of his locks. "And so +there wasn't any Johnson after all," said she.</p> + +<p>But Robinson, as he returned home, walked again upon roses.</p> + + +<p><a name="c13" id="c13"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER XIII.</h3> +<h4>THE WISDOM OF POPPINS.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>George Robinson again walked upon roses, and for a while felt that he +had accomplished bliss. What has the world to offer equal to the joy +of gratified love? What triumph is there so triumphant as that +achieved by valour over beauty?<br /> </p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table style="margin: 0 auto" cellpadding="1"> + <tr> + <td align="left"> + <p class="noindent">Take the goods the gods provide you.<br /> + The lovely Thais sits beside you.<br /> </p> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + + +<p class="noindent">Was not that the +happiest moment in Alexander's life. Was it not the +climax of all his glories, and the sweetest drop which Fortune poured +into his cup? George Robinson now felt himself to be a second +Alexander. Beside him the lovely Thais was seated evening after +evening; and he, with no measured stint, took the goods the gods +provided. He would think of the night of that supper in Smithfield, +when the big Brisket sat next to his love, half hidden by her +spreading flounces, and would remember how, in his spleen, he had +likened his rival to an ox prepared for the sacrifice with garlands. +"Poor ignorant beast of the field!" he had said, apostrophizing the +unconscious Brisket, "how little knowest thou how ill those flowers +become thee, or for what purpose thou art thus caressed! They will +take from thee thy hide, thy fatness, all that thou hast, and divide +thy carcase among them. And yet thou thinkest thyself happy! Poor +foolish beast of the field!" Now that ox had escaped from the toils, +and a stag of the forest had been caught by his antlers, and was +bound for the altar. He knew all this, and yet he walked upon roses +and was happy. "Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof," he said +to himself. "The lovely Thais sits beside me. Shall I not take the +goods the gods provide me?"</p> + +<p>The lovely Thais sat beside him evening after evening for nearly two +months, up in Mr. Brown's parlour, but as yet nothing had been +decided as to the day of their marriage. Sometimes Mr. and Mrs. +Poppins would be there smiling, happy, and confidential; and +sometimes Mr. and Mrs. Jones careworn, greedy, and suspicious. On +those latter evenings the hours would all be spent in discussing the +profits of the shop and the fair division of the spoils. On this +subject Mrs. Jones would be very bitter, and even the lovely Thais +would have an opinion of her own which seemed to be anything but +agreeable to her father.</p> + +<p>"Maryanne," her lover said to her one evening, when words had been +rather high among them, "if you want your days to be long in the +land, you must honour your father and mother."</p> + +<p>"I don't want my days to be long, if we're never to come to an +understanding," she answered. "And I've got no mother, as you know +well, or you wouldn't treat me so."</p> + +<p>"You must understand, father," said Sarah Jane, "that things shan't +go on like this. Jones shall have his rights, though he don't seem +half man enough to stand up for them. What's the meaning of +partnership, if nobody's to know where the money goes to?"</p> + +<p>"I've worked like a horse," said Jones. "I'm never out of that place +from morning to night,—not so much as to get a pint of beer. And, as +far as I can see, I was better off when I was at Scrimble and Grutts. +I did get my salary regular."</p> + +<p>Mr. Brown was at this time in tears, and as he wept he lifted up +hands. "My children, my children!" said he.</p> + +<p>"That's all very well, father," said Maryanne. "But whimpering won't +keep anybody's pot a-boiling. I'm sick of this sort of thing, and, to +tell the truth, I think it quite time to see some sort of a house +over my head."</p> + +<p>"Would that I could seat you in marble halls!" said George Robinson.</p> + +<p>"Oh, bother!" said Maryanne. "That sort of a thing is very good in a +play, but business should be business." It must always be +acknowledged, in favour of Mr. Brown's youngest daughter, that her +views were practical, and not over-strained by romance.</p> + +<p>During these two or three months a considerable intimacy sprang up +between Mr. Poppins and George Robinson. It was not that there was +any similarity in their characters, for in most respects they were +essentially unlike each other. But, perhaps, this very difference led +to their friendship. How often may it be observed in the fields that +a high-bred, quick-paced horse will choose some lowly donkey for his +close companionship, although other horses of equal birth and speed +be in the same pasture! Poppins was a young man of an easy nature and +soft temper, who was content to let things pass by him unquestioned, +so long as they passed quietly. Live and let live, were words that +were often on his lips;—by which he intended to signify that he +would overlook the peccadilloes of other people, as long as other +people overlooked his own. When the lady who became afterwards Mrs. +Poppins had once called him a rascal, he had not with loud voice +asserted the injustice of the appellation, but had satisfied himself +with explaining to her that, even were it so, he was still fit for +her society. He possessed a practical philosophy of his own, by which +he was able to steer his course in life. He was not, perhaps, +prepared to give much to others, but neither did he expect that much +should be given to him. There was no ardent generosity in his +temperament; but then, also, there was no malice or grasping avarice. +If in one respect he differed much from our Mr. Robinson, so also in +another respect did he differ equally from our Mr. Jones. He was at +this time a counting-house clerk in a large wharfinger's +establishment, and had married on a salary of eighty pounds a year. +"I tell you what it is, Robinson," said he, about this time: "I don't +understand this business of yours."</p> + +<p>"No," said Robinson; "perhaps not. A business like ours is not easily +understood."</p> + +<p>"You don't seem to me to divide any profits."</p> + +<p>"In an affair of such magnitude the profits cannot be adjusted every +day, nor yet every month."</p> + +<p>"But a man wants his bread and cheese every day. Now, there's old +Brown. He's a deal sharper than I took him for."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Brown, for a commercial man of the old school, possesses +considerable intelligence," said Robinson. Throughout all these +memoirs, it may be observed that Mr. Robinson always speaks with +respect of Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"Very considerable indeed," said Poppins. "He seems to me to nobble +everything. Perhaps that was the old school. The young school ain't +so very different in that respect;—only, perhaps, there isn't so +much for them to nobble."</p> + +<p>"A regular division of our profits has been arranged for in our deed +of partnership," said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"That's uncommon nice, and very judicious," said Poppins.</p> + +<p>"It was thought to be so by our law advisers," said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"But yet, you see, old Brown nobbles the money. Now, if ever I goes +into partnership, I shall bargain to have the till for my share. You +never get near the till, do you?"</p> + +<p>"I attend to quite another branch of the business," said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"Then you're wrong. There's no branch of the business equal to the +ready money branch. Old Brown has lots of ready money always by him +now-a-days."</p> + +<p>It certainly was the case that the cash received day by day over the +counter was taken by Mr. Brown from the drawers and deposited by him +in the safe. The payments into the bank were made three times a week, +and the checks were all drawn by Mr. Brown. None of these had ever +been drawn except on behalf of the business; but then the payments +into the bank had by no means tallied with the cash taken; and +latterly,—for the last month or so,—the statements of the daily +cash taken had been very promiscuous. Some payments had, of course, +been made both to Jones and Robinson for their own expenses, but the +payments made by Mr. Brown to himself had probably greatly exceeded +these. He had a vague idea that he was supreme in money matters, +because he had introduced "capital" into the firm. George Robinson +had found it absolutely impossible to join himself in any league with +Jones, so that hitherto Mr. Brown had been able to carry out his own +theory. The motto, <i>Divide et impera</i>, was probably unknown to Mr. +Brown in those words, but he had undoubtedly been acting on the +wisdom which is conveyed in that doctrine.</p> + +<p>Jones and his wife were preparing themselves for war, and it was +plain to see that a storm of battle would soon be raging. Robinson +also was fully alive to the perils of his position, and anxious as he +was to remain on good terms with Mr. Brown, was aware that it would +be necessary for him to come to some understanding. In his difficulty +he had dropped some hints to his friend Poppins, not exactly +explaining the source of his embarrassment, but saying enough to make +that gentleman understand the way in which the firm was going on.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you're in earnest about that girl," said Poppins. Poppins +had an offhand, irreverent way of speaking, especially on subjects +which from their nature demanded delicacy, that was frequently +shocking to Robinson.</p> + +<p>"If you mean Miss Brown," said Robinson, in a tone of voice that was +intended to convey a rebuke, "I certainly am in earnest. My intention +is that she shall become Mrs. Robinson."</p> + +<p>"But when?"</p> + +<p>"As soon as prudence will permit and the lady will consent. Miss +Brown has never been used to hardship. For myself, I should little +care what privations I might be called on to bear, but I could hardly +endure to see her in want."</p> + +<p>"My advice to you is this. If you mean to marry her, do it at once. +If you and she together can't manage the old man, you can't be worth +your salt. If you can do that, then you can throw Jones overboard."</p> + +<p>"I am not in the least afraid of Jones."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not; but still you'd better mind your P's and Q's. It seems +to me that you and he and the young women are at sixes and sevens, +and that's the reason why old Brown is able to nobble the money."</p> + +<p>"I certainly should be happier," said Robinson, "if I were married, +and things were settled."</p> + +<p>"As to marriage," said Poppins, "my opinion is this; if a man has to +do it, he might as well do it at once. They're always pecking at you; +and a fellow feels that if he's in for it, what's the good of his +fighting it out?"</p> + +<p>"I should never marry except for love," said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"Nor I neither," said Poppins. "That is, I couldn't bring myself to +put up with a hideous old hag, because she'd money. I should always +be wanting to throttle her. But as long as they're young, and soft, +and fresh, one can always love 'em;—at least I can."</p> + +<p>"I never loved but one," said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"There was a good many of them used to be pretty much the same to me. +They was all very well; but as to breaking my heart about them,—why, +it's a thing that I never understood."</p> + +<p>"Do you know, Poppins, what I did twice,—ay, thrice,—in those dark +days?"</p> + +<p>"What; when Brisket was after her?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; when she used to say that she loved another. Thrice did I go +down to the river bank, intending to terminate this wretched +existence."</p> + +<p>"Did you now?"</p> + +<p>"I swear to you that I did. But Providence, who foresaw the happiness +that is in store for me, withheld me from the leap."</p> + +<p>"Polly once took up with a sergeant, and I can't say I liked it."</p> + +<p>"And what did you do?"</p> + +<p>"I got uncommon drunk, and then I knocked the daylight out of him. +We've been the best of friends ever since. But about marrying;—if a +man is to do it, he'd better do it. It depends a good deal on the +young woman, of course, and whether she's comfortable in her mind. +Some women ain't comfortable, and then there's the devil to pay. You +don't get enough to eat, and nothing to drink; and if ever you leave +your pipe out of your pocket, she smashes it. I've know'd 'em of that +sort, and a man had better have the rheumatism constant."</p> + +<p>"I don't think Maryanne is like that."</p> + +<p>"Well; I can't say. Polly isn't. She's not over good, by no means, +and would a deal sooner sit in a arm-chair and have her victuals and +beer brought to her, than she'd break her back by working too hard. +She'd like to be always a-junketing, and that's what she's best +for,—as is the case with many of 'em."</p> + +<p>"I've seen her as sportive as a young fawn at the Hall of Harmony."</p> + +<p>"But she ain't a young fawn any longer; and as for harmony, it's my +idea that the less of harmony a young woman has the better. It makes +'em give themselves airs, and think as how their ten fingers were +made to put into yellow gloves, and that a young man hasn't nothing +to do but to stand treat, and whirl 'em about till he ain't able to +stand. A game's all very well, but bread and cheese is a deal +better."</p> + +<p>"I love to see beauty enjoying itself gracefully. My idea of a woman +is incompatible with the hard work of the world. I would fain do that +myself, so that she should ever be lovely."</p> + +<p>"But she won't be lovely a bit the more. She'll grow old all the +same, and take to drink very like. When she's got a red nose and a +pimply face, and a sharp tongue, you'd be glad enough to see her at +the wash-tub then. I remember an old song as my father used to sing, +but my mother couldn't endure to hear it.<br /> </p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table style="margin: 0 auto" cellpadding="1"> + <tr> + <td align="left"> + <p class="noindent">Woman takes delight in abundance of pleasure,<br /> + But a man's life is to labour and toil.<br /> </p> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + + +<p class="noindent">That's about +the truth of it, and that's what comes of your Halls of +Harmony."</p> + +<p>"You would like woman to be a household drudge."</p> + +<p>"So I would,—only drudge don't sound well. Call her a ministering +angel instead, and it comes to the same thing. They both of 'em means +much of a muchness;—getting up your linen decent, and seeing that +you have a bit of something hot when you come home late. Well, +good-night, old fellow. I shall have my hair combed if I stay much +longer. Take my advice, and as you mean to do it, do it at once. And +don't let the old 'un nobble all the money. Live and let live. That's +fair play all over." And so Mr. Poppins took his leave.</p> + +<p>Had anybody suggested to George Robinson that he should go to Poppins +for advice as to his course of life, George Robinson would have +scorned the suggestion. He knew very well the great difference +between him and his humble friend, both as regarded worldly position +and intellectual attainments. But, nevertheless, there was a strain +of wisdom in Poppins' remarks which, though it appertained wholly to +matters of low import, he did not disdain to use. It was true that +Maryanne Brown still frequented the Hall of Harmony, and went there +quite as often without her betrothed as with him. It was true that +Mr. Brown had adopted a habit of using the money of the firm, without +rendering a fair account of the purpose to which he applied it. The +Hall of Harmony might not be the best preparation for domestic +duties, nor Mr. Brown's method of applying the funds the best +specific for commercial success. He would look to both these things, +and see that some reform were made. Indeed, he would reform them both +entirely by insisting on a division of the profits, and by taking +Maryanne to his own bosom. Great ideas filled his mind. If any undue +opposition were made to his wishes when expressed, he would leave the +firm, break up the business, and carry his now well-known genius for +commercial enterprise to some other concern in which he might be +treated with a juster appreciation of his merits.</p> + +<p>"Not that I will ever leave thee, Maryanne," he said to himself, as +he resolved these things in his mind.</p> + + +<p><a name="c14" id="c14"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER XIV.</h3> +<h4>MISTRESS MORONY.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>It was about ten days after the conversation recorded in the last +chapter between Mr. Robinson and Mr. Poppins that an affair was +brought about through the imprudence and dishonesty of Mr. Jones, +which for some time prevented that settlement of matters on which Mr. +Robinson had resolved. During those ten days he had been occupied in +bringing his resolution to a fixed point; and then, when the day and +hour had come in which he intended to act, that event occurred which, +disgraceful as it is to the annals of the Firm, must now be told.</p> + +<p>There are certain small tricks of trade, well known to the lower +class of houses in that business to which Brown, Jones, and Robinson +had devoted themselves, which for a time may no doubt be profitable, +but which are very apt to bring disgrace and ruin upon those who +practise them. To such tricks as these Mr. Jones was wedded, and by +none of the arguments which he used in favour of a high moral tone of +commerce could Robinson prevail upon his partner to abandon them. +Nothing could exceed the obstinacy and blindness of Mr. Jones during +these discussions. When it was explained to him that the conduct he +was pursuing was hardly removed,—nay, it was not removed,—from +common swindling, he would reply that it was quite as honest as Mr. +Robinson's advertisements. He would quote especially those +Katakairion shirts which were obtained from Hodges, and of which the +sale at 39<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i> the half-dozen had by dint of a wide circulation +of notices become considerable. "If that isn't swindling, I don't +know what is," said Jones.</p> + +<p>"Do you know what Katakairion means?" said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"No; I don't," said Jones. "And I don't want to know."</p> + +<p>"Katakairion means 'fitting,'" said Robinson; "and the purchaser has +only to take care that the shirt he buys does fit, and then it is +Katakairion."</p> + +<p>"But we didn't invent them."</p> + +<p>"We invented the price and the name, and that's as much as anybody +does. But that is not all. It's a well-understood maxim in trade, +that a man may advertise whatever he chooses. We advertise to attract +notice, not to state facts. But it's a mean thing to pass off a false +article over the counter. If you will ticket your goods, you should +sell them according to the ticket."</p> + +<p>At first, the other partners had not objected to this ticketing, as +the practice is now common, and there is at first sight an apparent +honesty about it which has its seduction. A lady seeing 21<i>s.</i> 7<i>d.</i> +marked on a mantle in the window, is able to contemplate the desired +piece of goods and to compare it, in silent leisure, with her +finances. She can use all her power of eye, but, as a compensation to +the shopkeeper, is debarred from the power of touch; and then, having +satisfied herself as to the value of the thing inspected, she can go +in and buy without delay or trouble to the vendor. But it has been +found by practice that so true are the eyes of ladies that it is +useless to expose in shop-windows articles which are not good of +their kind, and cheap at the price named. To attract customers in +this way, real bargains must be exhibited; and when this is done, +ladies take advantage of the unwary tradesman, and unintended +sacrifices are made. George Robinson soon perceived this, and +suggested that the ticketing should be abandoned. Jones, however, +persevered, observing that he knew how to remedy the evil inherent in +the system. Hence difficulties arose, and, ultimately, disgrace, +which was very injurious to the Firm, and went near to break the +heart of Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>According to Jones's plan, the articles ticketed in the window were +not, under any circumstances, to be sold. The shopmen, indeed, were +forbidden to remove them from their positions under any entreaties or +threats from the customers. The customer was to be at first informed, +with all the blandishment at the shopman's command, that the goods +furnished within the shop were exact counterparts of those exposed. +Then the shopman was to argue that the arrangements of the window +could not be disturbed. And should a persistent purchaser after that +insist on a supposed legal right, to buy the very thing ticketed, Mr. +Jones was to be called; in which case Mr. Jones would inform the +persistent purchaser that she was regarded as unreasonable, violent, +and disagreeable; and that, under such circumstances, her custom was +not wanted by Brown, Jones, and Robinson. The disappointed female +would generally leave the shop with some loud remarks as to +swindling, dishonesty, and pettifogging, to which Mr. Jones could +turn a deaf ear. But sometimes worse than this would ensue; ladies +would insist on their rights; scrambles would occur in order that +possession of the article might be obtained; the assistants in the +shop would not always take part with Mr. Jones; and, as has been +before said, serious difficulties would arise.</p> + +<p>There can be no doubt that Jones was very wrong. He usually was +wrong. His ideas of trade were mean, limited, and altogether +inappropriate to business on a large scale. But, nevertheless, we +cannot pass on to the narration of a circumstance as it did occur, +without expressing our strong abhorrence of those ladies who are +desirous of purchasing cheap goods to the manifest injury of the +tradesmen from whom they buy them. The ticketing of goods at prices +below their value is not to our taste, but the purchasing of such +goods is less so. The lady who will take advantage of a tradesman, +that she may fill her house with linen, or cover her back with +finery, at his cost, and in a manner which her own means would not +fairly permit, is, in our estimation,—a robber. It is often +necessary that tradesmen should advertise tremendous sacrifices. It +is sometimes necessary that they should actually make such +sacrifices. Brown, Jones, and Robinson have during their career been +driven to such a necessity. They have smiled upon their female +customers, using their sweetest blandishments, while those female +customers have abstracted their goods at prices almost nominal. +Brown, Jones, and Robinson, in forcing such sales, have been coerced +by the necessary laws of trade; but while smiling with all their +blandishments, they have known that the ladies on whom they have +smiled have been—robbers.</p> + +<p>Why is it that commercial honesty has so seldom charms for women? A +woman who would give away the last shawl from her back will insist on +smuggling her gloves through the Custom-house! Who can make a widow +understand that she should not communicate with her boy in the +colonies under the dishonest cover of a newspaper? Is not the passion +for cheap purchases altogether a female mania? And yet every cheap +purchase,—every purchase made at a rate so cheap as to deny the +vendor his fair profit is, in truth, a dishonesty;—a dishonesty to +which the purchaser is indirectly a party. Would that women could be +taught to hate bargains! How much less useless trash would there be +in our houses, and how much fewer tremendous sacrifices in our shops!</p> + +<p>Brown, Jones, and Robinson, when they had been established some six +or eight months, had managed to procure from a house in the silk +trade a few black silk mantles of a very superior description. The +lot had been a remnant, and had been obtained with sundry other goods +at a low figure. But, nevertheless, the proper price at which the +house could afford to sell them would exceed the mark of general +purchasers in Bishopsgate Street. These came into Mr. Jones' hands, +and he immediately resolved to use them for the purposes of the +window. Some half-dozen of them were very tastefully arranged upon +racks, and were marked at prices which were very tempting to ladies +of discernment. In the middle of one window there was a copious +mantle, of silk so thick that it stood almost alone, very full in its +dimensions, and admirable in its fashion. This mantle, which would +not have been dearly bought for 3<i>l.</i> 10<i>s.</i> or 4<i>l.</i>, was +injudiciously ticketed at 38<i>s.</i> 11½<i>d.</i> "It +will bring dozens of +women to the shop," said Jones, "and we have an article of the same +shape and colour, which we can do at that price uncommonly well." +Whether or no the mantle had brought dozens of women into the shop, +cannot now be said, but it certainly brought one there whom Brown, +Jones, and Robinson will long remember.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Morony was an Irishwoman who, as she assured the magistrates in +Worship Street, had lived in the very highest circles in Limerick, +and had come from a princely stock in the neighbouring county of +Glare. She was a full-sized lady, not without a certain amount of +good looks, though at the period of her intended purchase in +Bishopsgate Street, she must have been nearer fifty than forty. Her +face was florid, if not red, her arms were thick and powerful, her +eyes were bright, but, as seen by Brown, Jones, and Robinson, not +pleasant to the view, and she always carried with her an air of +undaunted resolution. When she entered the shop, she was accompanied +by a thin, acrid, unmarried female friend, whose feminine charms by +no means equalled her own. She might be of about the same age, but +she had more of the air and manner of advanced years. Her nose was +long, narrow and red; her eyes were set very near together; she was +tall and skimpy in all her proportions; and her name was Miss Biles. +Of the name and station of Mrs. Morony, or of Miss Biles, nothing was +of course known when they entered the shop; but with all these +circumstances, B., J., and R. were afterwards made acquainted.</p> + +<p>"I believe I'll just look at that pelisse, if you plaze," said Mrs. +Morony, addressing herself to a young man who stood near to the +window in which the mantle was displayed.</p> + +<p>"Certainly, ma'am," said the man. "If you'll step this way, I'll show +you the article."</p> + +<p>"I see the article there," said Mrs. Morony, poking at it with her +parasol. Standing where she did she was just able to touch it in this +way. "That's the one I mane, with the price;—how much was it, Miss +Biles?"</p> + +<p>"One, eighteen, eleven and a halfpenny," said Miss Biles, who had +learned the figures by heart before she ventured to enter the shop.</p> + +<p>"If you'll do me the favour to step this way I'll show you the same +article," said the man, who was now aware that it was his first duty +to get the ladies away from that neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>But Mrs. Morony did not move. "It's the one there that I'm asking ye +for," said she, pointing again, and pointing this time with the +hooked end of her parasol. "I'll throuble ye, young man, to show me +the article with the ticket."</p> + +<p>"The identical pelisse, if you please, sir," said Miss Biles, "which +you there advertise as for sale at one, eighteen, eleven and a +halfpenny." And then she pressed her lips together, and looked at the +shopman with such vehemence that her two eyes seemed to grow into +one.</p> + +<p>The poor man knew that he was in a difficulty, and cast his eyes +across the shop for assistance. Jones, who in his own branch was ever +on the watch,—and let praise for that diligence be duly given to +him,—had seen from the first what was in the wind. From the moment +in which the stout lady had raised her parasol he felt that a battle +was imminent; but he had thought it prudent to abstain awhile from +the combat himself. He hovered near, however, as personal protection +might be needed on behalf of the favourite ornament of his window.</p> + +<p>"I'll throuble you, if you plaze, sir, to raich me that pelisse," +said Mrs. Morony.</p> + +<p>"We never disturb our window," said the man, "but we keep the same +article in the shop."</p> + +<p>"Don't you be took in by that, Mrs. Morony," said Miss Biles.</p> + +<p>"I don't mane," said Mrs. Morony. "I shall insist, +<span class="nowrap">sir—"</span></p> + +<p>Now was the moment in which, as Jones felt, the interference of the +general himself was necessary. Mrs. Morony was in the act of turning +herself well round towards the window, so as to make herself sure of +her prey when she should resolve on grasping it. Miss Biles had +already her purse in her hand, ready to pay the legal claim. It was +clear to be seen that the enemy was of no mean skill and of great +valour. The intimidation of Mrs. Morony might be regarded as a feat +beyond the power of man. Her florid countenance had already become +more than ordinarily rubicund, and her nostrils were breathing anger.</p> + +<p>"Ma'am," said Mr. Jones, stepping up and ineffectually attempting to +interpose himself between her and the low barrier which protected the +goods exposed to view, "the young man has already told you that we +cannot disarrange the window. It is not our habit to do so. If you +will do me the honour to walk to a chair, he shall show you any +articles which you may desire to inspect."</p> + +<p>"Don't you be done," whispered Miss Biles.</p> + +<p>"I don't mane, if I know it," said Mrs. Morony, standing her ground +manfully. "I don't desire to inspect anything,—only that pelisse."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry that we cannot gratify you," said Mr. Jones.</p> + +<p>"But you must gratify me. It's for sale, and the money's on it."</p> + +<p>"You shall have the same article at the same price;" and Mr. Jones, +as he spoke, endeavoured to press the lady out of her position. "But +positively you cannot have that. We never break through our rules."</p> + +<p>"Chaiting the public is the chief of your rules, I'm thinking," said +Mrs. Morony; "but you'll not find it so aisy to chait me. Pay them +the money down on the counter, Miss Biles, dear." And so saying she +thrust forth her parasol, and succeeded in her attempt to dislodge +the prey. Knowing well where to strike her blow and obtain a hold, +she dragged forth the mantle, and almost got it into her left hand. +But Jones could not stand by and see his firm thus robbed. Dreadful +as was his foe in spirit, size, and strength, his manliness was too +great for this. So he also dashed forward, and was the first to grasp +the silk.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to rob the shop?" said he.</p> + +<p>"Is it rob?" said Mrs. Morony. "By the powers, thin, ye're the +biggest blag-guard my eyes have seen since I've been in London, and +that's saying a long word. Is it rob to me? I'll tell you what it is, +young man,—av you don't let your fingers off this pelisse that I've +purchased, I'll have you before the magisthrates for stailing it. +Have you paid the money down, dear?"</p> + +<p>Miss Biles was busy counting out the cash, but no one was at hand to +take it from her. It was clear that the two confederates had prepared +themselves at all points for the contest, having, no doubt, more than +once inspected the article from the outside,—for Miss Biles had the +exact sum ready, done to the odd halfpenny. "There," said she, +appealing to the young man who was nearest to her, "one, eighteen, +eleven, and a halfpenny." But the young man was deaf to the charmer, +even though she charmed with ready money. "May I trouble you to see +that the cash is right." But the young man would not be troubled.</p> + +<p>"You'd a deal better leave it go, ma'am," said Jones, "or I shall be +obliged to send for the police."</p> + +<p>"Is it the police? Faith, thin, and I think you'd better send! Give +me my mantilla, I say. It's bought and paid for at your own price."</p> + +<p>By this time there was a crowd in the shop, and Jones, in his anxiety +to defend the establishment, had closed with Mrs. Morony, and was, as +it were, wrestling with her. His effort, no doubt, had been to +disengage her hand from the unfortunate mantle; but in doing so, he +was led into some slight personal violence towards the lady. And now +Miss Biles, having deposited her money, attacked him from behind, +declaring that her friend would be murdered.</p> + +<p>"Come, hands off. A woman's a woman always!" said one of the crowd +who had gathered round them.</p> + +<p>"What does the man mean by hauling a female about that way?" said +another.</p> + +<p>"The poor crathur's nigh murthered wid him intirely," said a +countrywoman from the street.</p> + +<p>"If she's bought the thingumbob at your own price, why don't you give +it her?" asked a fourth.</p> + +<p>"I'll be hanged if she shall have it!" said Jones, panting for +breath. He was by no means deficient in spirit on such an occasion as +this.</p> + +<p>"And it's my belief you will be hanged," said Miss Biles, who was +still working away at his back.</p> + +<p>The scene was one which was not creditable to the shop of English +tradesmen in the nineteenth century. The young men and girls had come +round from behind the counter, but they made no attempt to separate +the combatants. Mr. Jones was not loved among them, and the chance of +war seemed to run very much in favour of the lady. One discreet youth +had gone out in quest of a policeman, but he was not successful in +his search till he had walked half a mile from the door. Mr. Jones +was at last nearly smothered in the encounter, for the great weight +and ample drapery of Mrs. Morony were beginning to tell upon him. +When she got his back against the counter, it was as though a feather +bed was upon him. In the meantime the unfortunate mantle had fared +badly between them, and was now not worth the purchase-money which, +but ten minutes since, had been so eagerly tendered for it.</p> + +<p>Things were in this state when Mr. Brown slowly descended into the +arena, while George Robinson, standing at the distant doorway in the +back, looked on with blushing cheeks. One of the girls had explained +to Mr. Brown what was the state of affairs, and he immediately +attempted to throw oil on the troubled waters.</p> + +<p>"Wherefore all this noise?" he said, raising both his hands as he +advanced slowly to the spot. "Mr. Jones, I implore you to desist!" +But Mr. Jones was wedged down upon the counter, and could not desist.</p> + +<p>"Madam, what can I do for you?" And he addressed himself to the back +of Mrs. Marony, which was still convulsed violently by her efforts to +pummel Mr. Jones.</p> + +<p>"I believe he's well nigh killed her; I believe he has," said Miss +Biles.</p> + +<p>Then, at last, the discreet youth returned with three policemen, and +the fight was at an end. That the victory was with Mrs. Morony nobody +could doubt. She held in her hand all but the smallest fragment of +the mantle,—the price of which, however, Miss Biles had been careful +to repocket,—and showed no sign of exhaustion, whereas Jones was +speechless. But, nevertheless, she was in tears, and appealed loudly +to the police and to the crowd as to her wrongs.</p> + +<p>"I'm fairly murthered with him, thin, so I am,—the baist, the +villain, the swindhler. What am I to do at all, and my things all +desthroyed? Look at this, thin!" and she held up the cause of war. +"Did mortial man iver see the like of that? And I'm beaten black and +blue wid him,—so I am." And then she sobbed violently.</p> + +<p>"So you are, Mrs. Morony," said Miss Biles. "He to call himself a man +indeed, and to go to strike a woman!"</p> + +<p>"It's thrue for you, dear," continued Mrs. Morony. "Policemen, mind, +I give him in charge. You're all witnesses, I give that man in +charge."</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones, also, was very eager to secure the intervention of the +police,—much more so than was Mr. Brown, who was only anxious that +everybody should retire. Mr. Jones could never be made to understand +that he had in any way been wrong. "A firm needn't sell an article +unless it pleases," he argued to the magistrate. "A firm is bound to +make good its promises, sir," replied the gentleman in Worship +Street. "And no respectable firm would for a moment hesitate to do +so." And then he made some remarks of a very severe nature.</p> + +<p>Mr. Brown did all that he could to prevent the affair from becoming +public. He attempted to bribe Mrs. Morony by presenting her with the +torn mantle; but she accepted the gift, and then preferred her +complaint. He bribed the policemen, also; but, nevertheless, the +matter got into the newspaper reports. The daily Jupiter, of course, +took it up,—for what does it not take up in its solicitude for poor +British human nature?—and tore Brown, Jones, and Robinson to pieces +in a leading article. No punishment could be inflicted on the firm, +for, as the magistrate said, no offence could be proved. The lady, +also, had certainly been wrong to help herself. But the whole affair +was damaging in the extreme to Magenta House, and gave a terrible +check to that rapid trade which had already sprang up under the +influence of an extended system of advertising.</p> + + +<p><a name="c15" id="c15"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER XV.</h3> +<h4>MISS BROWN NAMES THE DAY.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>George Robinson had been in the very act of coming to an +understanding with Mr. Brown as to the proceeds of the business, when +he was interrupted by that terrible affair of Mrs. Morony. For some +days after that the whole establishment was engaged in thinking, +talking, and giving evidence about the matter, and it was all that +the firm could do to keep the retail trade going across the counter. +Some of the young men and women gave notice, and went away; and +others became so indifferent that it was necessary to get rid of +them. For a week it was doubtful whether it would be possible to keep +the house open, and during that week Mr. Brown was so paralyzed by +his feelings that he was unable to give any assistance. He sat +upstairs moaning, accompanied generally by his two daughters; and he +sent a medical certificate to Worship Street, testifying his +inability to appear before the magistrate. From what transpired +afterwards we may say that the magistrate would have treated him more +leniently than did the young women. They were aware that whatever +money yet remained was in his keeping; and now, as at the time of +their mother's death, it seemed fitting to them that a division +should be made of the spoils.</p> + +<p>"George," he said one evening to his junior partner, "I'd like to be +laid decent in Kensal Green! I know it will come to that soon."</p> + +<p>Robinson hereupon reminded him that care had killed a cat; and +promised him all manner of commercial greatness if he could only +rouse himself to his work. "The career of a merchant prince is still +open to you," said Robinson, enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>"Not along with Maryanne and Sarah Jane, George!"</p> + +<p>"Sarah Jane is a married woman, and sits at another man's hearth. Why +do you allow her to trouble you?"</p> + +<p>"She is my child, George. A man can't deny himself to his child. At +least I could not. And I don't want to be a merchant prince. If I +could only have a little place of my own, that was my own; and where +they wouldn't always be nagging after money when they come to see +me."</p> + +<p>Poor Mr. Brown! He was asking from the fairies that for which we are +all asking,—for which men have ever asked. He merely desired the +comforts of the world, without its cares. He wanted his small farm of +a few acres, as Horace wanted it, and Cincinnatus, and thousands of +statesmen, soldiers, and merchants, from their days down to ours; his +small farm, on which, however, the sun must always shine, and where +no weeds should flourish. Poor Mr. Brown! Such little farms for the +comforts of old age can only be attained by long and unwearied +cultivation during the years of youth and manhood.</p> + +<p>It was on one occasion such as this, not very long after the affair +of Mrs. Morony, that Robinson pressed very eagerly upon Mr. Brown the +special necessity which demanded from the firm at the present moment +more than ordinary efforts in the way of advertisement.</p> + +<p>"Jones has given us a great blow," said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"I fear he has," said Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"And now, if we do not put our best foot forward it will be all up +with us. If we flag now, people will see that we are down. But if we +go on with audacity, all those reports will die away, and we shall +again trick our beams, and flame once more in the morning sky."</p> + +<p>It may be presumed that Mr. Brown did not exactly follow the +quotation, but the eloquence of Robinson had its desired effect. Mr. +Brown did at last produce a sum of five hundred pounds, with which +printers, stationers, and advertising agents were paid or partially +paid, and Robinson again went to work.</p> + +<p>"It's the last," said Mr. Brown, with a low moan, "and would have +been Maryanne's!"</p> + +<p>Robinson, when he heard this, was much struck by the old man's +enduring courage. How had he been able to preserve this sum from the +young woman's hands, pressed as he had been by her and by Brisket? Of +this Robinson said nothing, but he did venture to allude to the fact +that the money must, in fact, belong to the firm.</p> + +<p>This is here mentioned chiefly as showing the reason why Robinson did +not for awhile renew the business on which he was engaged when Mrs. +Morony's presence in the shop was announced. He felt that no private +matter should be allowed for a time to interfere with his renewed +exertions; and he also felt that as Mr. Brown had responded to his +entreaties in that matter of the five hundred pounds, it would not +become him to attack the old man again immediately. For three months +he applied himself solely to business; and then, when affairs had +partially been restored under his guidance, he again resolved, under +the further instigation of Poppins, to put things at once on a proper +footing.</p> + +<p>"So you ain't spliced yet," said Poppins.</p> + +<p>"No, not yet."</p> + +<p>"Nor won't be,—not to Maryanne Brown. There was my wife at +Brisket's, in Aldersgate Street, yesterday, and we all know what that +means."</p> + +<p>"What does it mean?" demanded Robinson, scowling fearfully. "Would +you hint to me that she is false?"</p> + +<p>"False! No! she's not false that I know of. She's ready enough to +have you, if you can put yourself right with the old man. But if you +can't,—why, of course, she's not to wait till her hair's grey. She +and Polly are as thick as thieves, and so Polly has been to +Aldersgate Street. Polly says that the Jones's are getting their +money regularly out of the till."</p> + +<p>"Wait till her hair be grey!" said Robinson, when he was left to +himself. "Do I wish her to wait? Would I not stand with her at the +altar to-morrow, though my last half-crown should go to the greedy +priest who joined us? And she has sent her friend to Aldersgate +Street,—to my rival! There must, at any rate, be an end of this!"</p> + +<p>Late on that evening, when his work was over, he took a glass of hot +brandy-and-water at the "Four Swans," and then he waited upon Mr. +Brown. He luckily found the senior partner alone. "Mr. Brown," said +he, "I've come to have a little private conversation."</p> + +<p>"Private, George! Well, I'm all alone. Maryanne is with Mrs. Poppins, +I think."</p> + +<p>With Mrs. Poppins! Yes; and where might she not be with Mrs. Poppins? +Robinson felt that he had it within him at that moment to start off +for Aldersgate Street. "But first to business," said he, as he +remembered the special object for which he had come.</p> + +<p>"For the present it is well that she should be away," he said. "Mr. +Brown, the time has now come at which it is absolutely necessary that +I should know where I am."</p> + +<p>"Where you are, George?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; on what ground I stand. Who I am before the world, and what +interest I represent. Is it the fact that I am the junior partner in +the house of Brown, Jones, and Robinson?"</p> + +<p>"Why, George, of course you are."</p> + +<p>"And is it the fact that by the deed of partnership drawn up between +us, I am entitled to receive one quarter of the proceeds of the +business?"</p> + +<p>"No, George, no; not proceeds."</p> + +<p>"What then?"</p> + +<p>"Profits, George; one quarter of the profits."</p> + +<p>"And what is my share for the year now over?"</p> + +<p>"You have lived, George; you must always remember that. It is a great +thing in itself even to live out of a trade in these days. You have +lived; you must acknowledge that."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Brown, I am not a greedy man, nor a suspicious man, nor an idle +man, nor a man of pleasure. But I am a man in love."</p> + +<p>"And she shall be yours, George."</p> + +<p>"Ay, sir, that is easily said. She shall be mine, and in order that +she may be mine, I must request to know what is accurately the state +of our account?"</p> + +<p>"George," said Mr. Brown in a piteous accent, "you and I have always +been friends."</p> + +<p>"But there are those who will do much for their enemies out of fear, +though they will do nothing for their friends out of love. Jones has +a regular income out of the business."</p> + +<p>"Only forty shillings or so on every Saturday night; nothing more, on +my honour. And then they've babbies, you know, and they must live."</p> + +<p>"By the terms of our partnership I am entitled to as much as he."</p> + +<p>"But then, George, suppose that nobody is entitled to nothing! +Suppose there is no profits. We all must live, you know, but then +it's only hand to mouth; is it?"</p> + +<p>How terrible was this statement as to the affairs of the firm, +coming, as it did, from the senior partner, who not more than twelve +months since entered the business with a sum of four thousand pounds +in hard cash! Robinson, whose natural spirit in such matters was +sanguine and buoyant, felt that even he was depressed. Had four +thousand pounds gone, and was there no profit? He knew well that the +stock on hand would not even pay the debts that were due. The shop +had always been full, and the men and women at the counter had always +been busy. The books had nominally been kept by himself; but who can +keep the books of a concern, if he be left in ignorance as to the +outgoings and incomings?</p> + +<p>"That comes of attempting to do business on a basis of capital!" he +said in a voice of anger.</p> + +<p>"It comes of advertising, George. It comes of little silver books, +and big wooden stockings, and men in armour, and cats-carrion shirts; +that's what it's come from, George."</p> + +<p>"Never," said Robinson, rising from his chair with energetic action. +"Never. You may as well tell me that the needle does not point to the +pole, that the planets have not their appointed courses, that the +swelling river does not run to the sea. There are facts as to which +the world has ceased to dispute, and this is one of them. Advertise, +advertise, advertise! It may be that we have fallen short in our +duty; but the performance of a duty can never do an injury." In reply +to this, old Brown merely shook his head. "Do you know what Barlywig +has spent on his physic; Barlywig's Medean Potion? Forty thousand +a-year for the last ten years, and now Barlywig is worth;—I don't +know what Barlywig is worth; but I know he is in Parliament."</p> + +<p>"We haven't stuff to go on like that, George." In answer to this, +Robinson knew not what to urge, but he did know that his system was +right.</p> + +<p>At this moment the door was opened, and Maryanne Brown entered the +room. "Father," she said, as soon as her foot was over the threshold +of the door; but then seeing that Mr. Brown was not alone, she +stopped herself. There was an angry spot on her cheeks, and it was +manifest from the tone of her voice that she was about to address her +father in anger. "Oh, George; so you are there, are you? I suppose +you came, because you knew I was out."</p> + +<p>"I came, Maryanne," said he, putting out his hand to her, "I came—to +settle our wedding day."</p> + +<p>"My children, my children!" said Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"That's all very fine," said Maryanne; "but I've heard so much about +wedding days, that I'm sick of it, and don't mean to have none."</p> + +<p>"What; you will never be a bride?"</p> + +<p>"No; I won't. What's the use?"</p> + +<p>"You shall be my bride;—to-morrow if you will."</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what it is, George Robinson; my belief of you is, that +you are that soft, a man might steal away your toes without your feet +missing 'em."</p> + +<p>"You have stolen away my heart, and my body is all the lighter."</p> + +<p>"It's light enough; there's no doubt of that, and so is your head. +Your heels too were, once, but you've given up that."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Maryanne. When a man commences the stern realities of life, +that must be abandoned. But now I am anxious to commence a reality +which is not stern,—that reality which is for me to soften all the +hardness of this hardworking world. Maryanne, when shall be our +wedding day?"</p> + +<p>For a while the fair beauty was coy, and would give no decisive +answer; but at length under the united pressure of her father and +lover, a day was named. A day was named, and Mr. Brown's consent to +that day was obtained; but this arrangement was not made till he had +undertaken to give up the rooms in which he at present lived, and to +go into lodgings in the neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>"George," said she, in a confidential whisper, before the evening was +over, "if you don't manage about the cash now, and have it all your +own way, you must be soft." Under the influence of gratified love, he +promised her that he would manage it.</p> + +<p>"Bless you, my children, bless you," said Mr. Brown, as they parted +for the night. "Bless you, and may your loves be lasting, and your +children obedient."</p> + + +<p><a name="c16" id="c16"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER XVI.</h3> +<h4>SHOWING HOW ROBINSON WALKED UPON ROSES.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>"Will it ever be said of me when my history is told that I spent +forty thousand pounds a-year in advertising a single article? Would +that it might be told that I had spent ten times forty thousand." It +was thus that Robinson had once spoken to his friend Poppins, while +some remnant of that five hundred pounds was still in his hands.</p> + +<p>"But what good does it do? It don't make anything."</p> + +<p>"But it sells them, Poppins."</p> + +<p>"Everybody wears a shirt, and no one wears more than one at a time. I +don't see that it does any good."</p> + +<p>"It is a magnificent trade in itself. Would that I had a monopoly of +all the walls in London! The very arches of the bridges must be worth +ten thousand a-year. The omnibuses are invaluable; the cabs are a +mine of wealth; and the railway stations throughout England would +give a revenue for an emperor. Poppins, my dear fellow, I fancy that +you have hardly looked into the depths of it."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not," said Poppins. "Some objects to them that they're all +lies. It isn't that I mind. As far as I can see, everything is mostly +lies. The very worst article our people can get for sale, they call +'middlings;' the real middlings are 'very superior,' and so on. +They're all lies; but they don't cost anything, and all the world +knows what they mean. Bad things must be bought and sold, and if we +said our things was bad, nobody would buy them. But I can't +understand throwing away so much money and getting nothing."</p> + +<p>Poppins possessed a glimmering of light, but it was only a +glimmering. He could understand that a man should not call his own +goods middling; but he could not understand that a man is only +carrying out the same principle in an advanced degree, when he +proclaims with a hundred thousand voices in a hundred thousand +places, that the article which he desires to sell is the best of its +kind that the world has yet produced. He merely asserts with his +loudest voice that his middlings are not middlings. A little man can +see that he must not cry stinking fish against himself; but it +requires a great man to understand that in order to abstain +effectually from so suicidal a proclamation, he must declare with all +the voice of his lungs, that his fish are that moment hardly out of +the ocean. "It's the poetry of euphemism," Robinson once said to +Poppins;—but he might as well have talked Greek to him.</p> + +<p>Robinson often complained that no one understood him; but he forgot +that it is the fate of great men generally to work alone, and to be +not comprehended. The higher a man raises his head, the more +necessary is it that he should learn to lean only on his own +strength, and to walk his path without even the assistance of +sympathy. The greedy Jones had friends. Poppins with his easy +epicurean laisser aller,—he had friends. The decent Brown, who would +so fain be comfortable, had friends. But for Robinson, there was no +one on whose shoulder he could rest his head, and from whose heart +and voice he could receive sympathy and encouragement.</p> + +<p>From one congenial soul,—from one soul that he had hoped to find +congenial,—he did look for solace; but even here he was +disappointed. It has been told that Maryanne Brown did at last +consent to name the day. This occurred in May, and the day named was +in August. Robinson was very anxious to fix it at an earlier period, +and the good-natured girl would have consented to arrange everything +within a fortnight. "What's the use of shilly-shallying?" said she to +her father. "If it is to be done, let it be done at once. I'm so +knocked about among you, I hardly know where I am." But Mr. Brown +would not consent. Mr. Brown was very feeble, but yet he was very +obstinate. It would often seem that he was beaten away from his +purpose, and yet he would hang on it with more tenacity than that of +a stronger man. "Town is empty in August, George, and then you can be +spared for a run to Margate for two or three days."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we don't want any nonsense," said Maryanne; "do we, George?"</p> + +<p>"All I want is your own self," said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"Then you won't mind going into lodgings for a few months," said +Brown.</p> + +<p>Robinson would have put up with an attic, had she he loved consented +to spread her bridal couch so humbly; but Maryanne declared with +resolution that she would not marry till she saw herself in +possession of the rooms over the shop.</p> + +<p>"There'll be room for us all for awhile," said old Brown.</p> + +<p>"I think we might manage," said George.</p> + +<p>"I know a trick worth two of that," said the lady. "Who's to make pa +go when once we begin in that way? As I mean to end, so I'll begin. +And as for you, George, there's no end to your softness. You're that +green, that the very cows would eat you." Was it not well said by Mr. +Robinson in his preface to these memoirs, that the poor old +commercial Lear, whose name stood at the head of the firm, was cursed +with a Goneril,—and with a Regan?</p> + +<p>But nothing would induce Mr. Brown to leave his home, or to say that +he would leave his home, before the middle of August, and thus the +happy day was postponed till that time.</p> + +<p>"There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip," said Poppins, when +he was told. "Do you take care that she and Polly ain't off to +Aldersgate Street together."</p> + +<p>"Poppins, I wouldn't be cursed with your ideas of human nature,—not +for a free use of all the stations on the North Western. Go to +Aldersgate Street now that she is my affianced bride!"</p> + +<p>"That's gammon," said Poppins. "When once she's married she'll go +straight enough. I believe that of her, for she knows which side her +bread's buttered. But till the splice is made she's a right to please +herself; that's the way she looks at it."</p> + +<p>"And will it not please her to become mine?"</p> + +<p>"It's about the same with 'em all," continued Poppins. "My Polly +would have been at Hong Kong with the Buffs by this time, if I hadn't +knocked the daylight out of that sergeant." And Poppins, from the +tone in which he spoke of his own deeds, seemed to look back upon his +feat of valour with less satisfaction than it had given him at the +moment. Polly was his own certainly; but the comfort of his small +menage was somewhat disturbed by his increasing family.</p> + +<p>But to return. Robinson, as we have said, looked in vain to his +future partner in life for a full appreciation of his own views as to +commerce. "It's all very well, I daresay," said she; "but one should +feel one's way."</p> + +<p>"When you launch your ship into the sea," he replied, "you do not +want to feel your way. You know that the waves will bear her up, and +you send her forth boldly. As wood will float upon water, so will +commerce float on the ocean streams of advertisement."</p> + +<p>"But if you ran aground in the mud, where are you then? Do you take +care, George, or your boat 'll be water-logged."</p> + +<p>It was during some of these conversations that Delilah cut another +lock of hair from Samson's head, and induced him to confess that he +had obtained that sum of five hundred pounds from her father, and +spent it among those who prepared for him his advertisements. "No!" +said she, jumping up from her seat. "Then he had it after all?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; he certainly had it."</p> + +<p>"Well, that passes. And after all he said!"</p> + +<p>A glimmering of the truth struck coldly upon Robinson's heart. She +had endeavoured to get from her father this sum and had failed. She +had failed, and the old man had sworn to her that he had it not. But +for what purpose had she so eagerly demanded it? "Maryanne," he said, +"if you love another more fondly than you love +<span class="nowrap">me—"</span></p> + +<p>"Don't bother about love, George, now. And so you got it out of him +and sent it all flying after the rest. I didn't think you were that +powerful."</p> + +<p>"The money, Maryanne, belonged to the firm."</p> + +<p>"Gracious knows who it belongs to now. But, laws;—when I think of +all that he said, it's quite dreadful. One can't believe a word that +comes out of his mouth."</p> + +<p>Robinson also thought that it was quite dreadful when he reflected on +all that she must have said before she had given up the task as +helpless. Then, too, an idea came upon him of what he might have to +endure when he and she should be one bone and one flesh. How charming +was she to the eyes! how luxuriously attractive, when in her softer +moments she would laugh, and smile, and joke at the winged hours as +they passed! But already was he almost afraid of her voice, and +already did he dread the fiercer glances of her eyes. Was he wise in +this that he was doing? Had he not one bride in commerce, a bride +that would never scold; and would it not be well for him to trust his +happiness to her alone? So he argued within his own breast. But +nevertheless, Love was still the lord of all.</p> + +<p>"And the money's all gone?" said Maryanne.</p> + +<p>"Indeed it is. Would I had as many thousands to send after it."</p> + +<p>"It was like your folly, George, not to keep a little of it by you, +knowing how comfortable it would have been for us at the beginning."</p> + +<p>"But, my darling, it belonged to the firm."</p> + +<p>"The firm! Arn't they all helping themselves hand over hand, except +you? There was Sarah Jane in the shop behind the counter all +yesterday afternoon. Now, I tell you what it is; if she's to come in +I won't stand it. She's not there for nothing, and she with children +at home. No wonder she can keep a nursemaid, if that's where she +spends her time. If you would go down more into the shop, George, and +write less of them little books in verse, it would be better for us +all."</p> + +<p>And so the time passed on towards August, and the fifteenth of that +month still remained fixed as the happy day. Robinson spent some +portion of this time in establishing a method of advertisement, which +he flattered himself was altogether new; but it must be admitted in +these pages that his means for carrying it out were not sufficient. +In accordance with this project it would have been necessary to +secure the co-operation of all the tailors' foremen in London, and +this could not be done without a douceur to the men. His idea was, +that for a period of a month in the heart of the London season, no +new coat should be sent home to any gentleman without containing in +the pocket one of those alluring little silver books, put out by +Brown, Jones, and Robinson.</p> + +<p>"The thing is, to get them opened and looked at," said Robinson. +"Now, I put it to you, Poppins, whether you wouldn't open a book like +that if you found that somebody had put it into your tail coat."</p> + +<p>"Well, I should open it."</p> + +<p>"You would be more or less than mortal did you not? If it's thrown +into your cab, you throw it out. If a man hands it to you in the +street, you drop it. If it comes by post, you throw it into the +waste-paper basket. But I'll defy the sternest or the idlest man not +to open the leaves of such a work as that when he first takes it out +of his new dress-coat. Surprise will make him do so. Why should his +tailor send him the book of B., J., and R.? There must be something +in it. The name of B., J., and R., becomes fixed in his memory, and +then the work is done. If the tailors had been true to me, I might +have defied the world." But the tailors were not true to him.</p> + +<p>During all this time nothing was heard of Brisket. It could not be +doubted that Brisket, busy among his bullocks in Aldersgate Street, +knew well what was passing among the Browns in Bishopsgate Street. +Once or twice it occurred to Robinson that the young women, Maryanne +namely and Mrs. Poppins, expected some intervention from the butcher. +Was it possible that Mr. Brisket might be expected to entertain less +mercenary ideas when he found that his prize was really to be carried +off by another? But whatever may have been the expectations of the +ladies, Brisket made no sign. He hadn't seen his way, and therefore +he had retired from the path of love.</p> + +<p>But Brisket, even though he did not see his way, was open to female +seduction. Why was it, that at this eventful period of Robinson's +existence Mrs. Poppins should have turned against him? Why his old +friend, Polly Twizzle, should have gone over to his rival, Robinson +never knew. It may have been because, in his humble way, Poppins +himself stood firmly by his friend; for such often is the nature of +women. Be that as it may, Mrs. Poppins, who is now again his fast +friend, was then his enemy.</p> + +<p>"We shall have to go to this wedding of George's," Poppins said to +his wife, when the first week in August had already passed. "I +suppose old Pikes 'ill give me a morning." Old Pikes was a partner in +the house to which Mr. Poppins was attached.</p> + +<p>"I shan't buy my bonnet yet awhile," said Mrs. Poppins.</p> + +<p>"And why not, Polly?"</p> + +<p>"For reasons that I know of."</p> + +<p>"But what reasons?"</p> + +<p>"You men are always half blind, and t'other half stupid. Don't you +see that she's not going to have him?"</p> + +<p>"She must be pretty sharp changing her mind, then. Here's Tuesday +already, and next Tuesday is to be the day."</p> + +<p>"Then it won't be next Tuesday; nor yet any Tuesday this month. +Brisket's after her again."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe it, Polly."</p> + +<p>"Then disbelieve it. I was with him yesterday, and I'll tell you who +was there before me;—only don't you go to Robinson and say I said +so."</p> + +<p>"If I can't make sport, I shan't spoil none," said Poppins.</p> + +<p>"Well, Jones was there. Jones was with Brisket, and Jones told him +that if he'd come forward now he should have a hundred down, and a +promise from the firm for the rest of it."</p> + +<p>"Then Jones is a scoundrel."</p> + +<p>"I don't know about that," said Mrs. Poppins. "Maryanne is his wife's +sister, and he's bound to do the best he can by her. Brisket is a +deal steadier man than Georgy Robinson, and won't have to look for +his bread so soon, I'm thinking."</p> + +<p>"He hasn't half the brains," said Poppins.</p> + +<p>"Brains is like soft words; they won't butter no parsnips."</p> + +<p>"And you've been with Brisket?" said the husband.</p> + +<p>"Yes; why not? Brisket and I was always friends. I'm not going to +quarrel with Brisket because Georgy Robinson is afraid of him. I knew +how it would be with Robinson when he didn't stand up to Brisket that +night at the Hall of Harmony. What's a man worth if he won't stand up +for his young woman? If you hadn't stood up for me I wouldn't have +had you." And so ended that conversation.</p> + +<p>"A hundred pounds down?" said Brisket to Jones the next day.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and our bill for the remainder."</p> + +<p>"The cash on the nail."</p> + +<p>"Paid into your hand," said Jones.</p> + +<p>"I think I should see my way," said Brisket; "at any rate I'll come +up on Saturday."</p> + +<p>"Much better say to-morrow, or Friday."</p> + +<p>"Can't. It's little Gogham Fair on Friday; and I always kills on +Thursday."</p> + +<p>"Saturday will be very late."</p> + +<p>"There'll be time enough if you've got the money ready. You've spoken +to old Brown, I suppose. I'll be up as soon after six on Saturday +evening as I can come. If Maryanne wants to see me, she'll find me +here. It won't be the first time."</p> + +<p>Thus was it that among his enemies the happiness of Robinson's life +was destroyed. Against Brisket he breathes not a word. The course was +open to both of them; and if Brisket was the best horse, why, let him +win!</p> + +<p>But in what words would it be right to depict the conduct of Jones?</p> + + +<p><a name="c17" id="c17"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER XVII.</h3> +<h4>A TEA-PARTY IN BISHOPSGATE STREET.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>If it shall appear to those who read these memoirs that there was +much in the conduct of Mr. Brown which deserves censure, let them +also remember how much there was in his position which demands pity. +In this short narrative it has been our purpose to set forth the +commercial doings of the house of Brown, Jones, and Robinson, rather +than the domestic life of the partners, and, therefore, it has been +impossible to tell of all the trials through which Mr. Brown passed +with his children. But those trials were very severe, and if Mr. +Brown was on certain points untrue to the young partner who trusted +him, allowances for such untruth must be made. He was untrue; but +there is one man, who, looking back upon his conduct, knows how to +forgive it.</p> + +<p>The scenes upstairs at Magenta House during that first week in August +had been very terrible. Mr. Brown, in his anxiety to see his daughter +settled, had undoubtedly pledged himself to abandon the rooms in +which he lived, and to take lodgings elsewhere. To this promised +self-sacrifice Maryanne was resolved to keep him bound; and when some +hesitation appeared on his part, she swore to him that nothing should +induce her to become Mrs. Robinson till he had packed his things and +was gone. Mr. Brown had a heart to feel, and at this moment he could +have told how much sharper than a serpent's tooth is a child's +ingratitude!</p> + +<p>But he would have gone; he would have left the house, although he had +begun to comprehend that in leaving it he must probably lose much of +his authority over the money taken in the shop; he would, however, +have done so, had not Mrs. Jones come down upon him with the whole +force of her tongue, and the full violence of her malice. When +Robinson should have become one with Maryanne Brown, and should also +have become the resident partner, then would the influence of Mrs. +Jones in that establishment have been brought to a speedy close.</p> + +<p>The reader shall not be troubled with those frightful quarrels in +which each of the family was pitted against the others. Sarah Jane +declared to her father, in terms which no child should have used to +her parent, that he must be an idiot and doting if he allowed his +youngest daughter and her lover to oust him from his house and from +all share in the management of the business. Brown then appealed +piteously to Maryanne, and begged that he might be allowed to occupy +a small closet as his bed-room. But Maryanne was inexorable. He had +undertaken to go, and unless he did go she would never omit to din +into his ears this breach of his direct promise to her. Maryanne +became almost great in her anger, as with voice raised so as to drown +her sister's weaker tones, she poured forth her own story of her own +wrongs.</p> + +<p>"It has been so from the beginning," she said. "When I first knew +Brisket, it was not for any love I had for the man, but because +mother took him up. Mother promised him money; and then I said I'd +marry him,—not because I cared for him, but because he was +respectable and all right. And then mother hadn't the money when the +pinch came, and, of course, Brisket wasn't going to be put upon;—why +should he? So I took up with Robinson, and you knew it, father."</p> + +<p>"I did, Maryanne; I did."</p> + +<p>"Of course you did. I wasn't going to make a fool of myself for no +man. I have got myself to look to; and if I don't do it myself, they +who is about me won't do it for me."</p> + +<p>"Your old father would do anything for you."</p> + +<p>"Father, I hate words! What I want is deeds. Well, then;—Robinson +came here and was your partner, and meanwhile I thought it was all +right. And who was it interfered? Why, you did. When Brisket went to +you, you promised him the money: and then he went and upset Robinson. +And we had that supper in Smithfield, and Robinson was off, and I was +to be Mrs. Brisket out of hand. But then, again, the money wasn't +there."</p> + +<p>"I couldn't make the money, Maryanne."</p> + +<p>"Father, it's a shame for you to tell such falsehoods before your own +daughters."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Maryanne! you wicked girl!" said Sarah Jane.</p> + +<p>"If I'm wicked, there's two of us so, Sarah Jane! You had the money, +and you gave it to Robinson for them notices of his. I know all about +it now! And then what could you expect of Brisket? Of course he was +off. There was no fal-lal about love, and all that, with him. He +wanted a woman to look after his house; but he wanted something with +her. And I wanted a roof over my head;—which I'm not likely to have, +the way you're going on."</p> + +<p>"While I have a morsel, you shall have half."</p> + +<p>"And when you haven't a morsel, how will it be then? Of course when I +saw all this, I felt myself put upon. There was Jones getting his +money out of the shop!"</p> + +<p>"Well, miss," said Sarah Jane; "and isn't he a partner?"</p> + +<p>"You ain't a partner, and I don't know what business you have there. +But every one was helping themselves except me. I was going to the +wall. I have always been going to the wall. Well; when Brisket was +off, I took up with Robinson again. I always liked him the best, only +I never thought of my own likings. I wasn't that selfish. I took up +with Robinson again; but I wasn't going to be any man's wife, if he +couldn't put a roof over my head. Well, father, you know what was +said then, and now you're going back from it."</p> + +<p>"I suppose you'd better have Mr. Brisket," said the old man, after a +pause.</p> + +<p>"Will you give Brisket those five hundred pounds?" And then those +embassies to Aldersgate Street were made by Mrs. Poppins and by Mr. +Jones. During this time Maryanne, having spoken her mind freely, +remained silent and sullen. That her father would not go out on the +appointed day, she knew. That she would not marry Robinson unless he +did, she knew also. She did not like Brisket; but, as she had said, +she was not so selfish as to let that stand in the way. If it was to +be Brisket, let it be Brisket. Only let something be done.</p> + +<p>Only let something be done. It certainly was not a matter of surprise +that she should demand so much. It must be acknowledged that all +connected with the firm and family began to feel that the house of +Brown, Jones, and Robinson, had not succeeded in establishing itself +on a sound basis. Mr. Brown was despondent, and often unwell. The +Jones's were actuated by no ambition to raise themselves to the +position of British merchants, but by a greedy desire to get what +little might be gotten in the scramble. Robinson still kept his +shoulder to the collar, but he did so with but little hope. He had +made a fatal mistake in leaguing himself with uncongenial partners, +and began to feel that this mistake must be expiated by the ruin of +his present venture. Under such circumstances Maryanne Brown was not +unreasonable in desiring that something should be done. She had now +given a tacit consent to that plan for bringing back Brisket, and +consequently her brother-in-law went at once to work.</p> + +<p>It must be acknowledged that the time was short. When Brisket, with +such easy indifference, postponed his visit to Bishopsgate Street +till the Saturday, giving to Gogham Market and the slaughtering of +his beasts a preference to the renewal of his love, he regarded the +task before him as a light one. But it must be supposed that it was +no light task to Miss Brown. On the Tuesday following that Saturday, +she would, if she were true to her word, join herself in wedlock to +George Robinson. She now purposed to be untrue to her word; but it +must be presumed that she had some misgivings at the heart when she +thought of the task before her.</p> + +<p>On the Thursday and the Friday she managed to avoid Robinson. On the +Saturday morning they met in her father's room for a minute, and when +he attempted to exercise a privilege to which his near approaching +nuptials certainly entitled him, she repulsed him sullenly: "Oh, +come; none of that." "I shall require the more on Tuesday," he +replied, with his ordinary good-humour. She spoke nothing further to +him then, but left the room and went away to her friend Mrs. Poppins.</p> + +<p>Robinson belonged to a political debating club, which met on every +Saturday evening at the "Goose and Gridiron" in one of the lanes +behind the church in Fleet Street. It was, therefore, considered that +the new compact might be made in Bishopsgate Street on that evening +without any danger of interruption from him. But at the hour of +dinner on that day, a word was whispered into his ear by Poppins. "I +don't suppose you care about it," said he, "but there's going to be +some sort of doing at the old man's this evening."</p> + +<p>"What doing?"</p> + +<p>"It's all right, I suppose; but Brisket is going to be there. It's +just a farewell call, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"Brisket with my love!" said Robinson. "Then will I be there also."</p> + +<p>"Don't forget that you've got to chaw up old Crowdy on the paper +question. What will the Geese do if you're not there?" The club in +question was ordinarily called the Goose Club, and the members were +in common parlance called "The Geese."</p> + +<p>"I will be there also," said Robinson. "But if I should be late, you +will tell the Geese why it is so."</p> + +<p>"They all know you are going to be married," said Poppins. And then +they parted.</p> + +<p>The hour at which the parliament of the Geese assembled was, as a +rule, a quarter before eight in the evening, so that the debate might +absolutely begin at eight. Seven was the hour for tea in Bishopsgate +Street, but on the present occasion Brisket was asked for half-past +seven, so that Robinson's absence might be counted on as a certainty. +At half-past seven to the moment Brisket was there, and the greeting +between him and Maryanne was not of a passionate nature.</p> + +<p>"Well, old girl, here I am again," he said, as he swung his burly +body into the room.</p> + +<p>"I see you," she said, as she half reluctantly gave him her hand. +"But remember, it wasn't me who sent for you. I'd just as lief you +stayed away." And then they went to business.</p> + +<p>Both Jones and his wife were there; and it may perhaps be said, that +if Maryanne Brown had any sincerity of feeling at her heart, it was +one of hatred for her brother-in-law. But now, this new change in her +fortunes was being brought about by his interference, and he was, as +it were, acting as her guardian. This was very bitter to her, and she +sat on one side in sullen silence, and to all appearance paid no heed +to what was being said.</p> + +<p>The minds of them all were so intent on the business part of the +transaction that the banquet was allowed to remain untouched till all +the preliminaries were settled. There was the tea left to draw till +it should be as bitter as Maryanne's temper, and the sally luns were +becoming as cold as Sarah Jane's heart. Mr. Brown did, in some +half-bashful manner, make an attempt at performing the duties of a +host. "My dears, won't Mr. Brisket have his dish of tea now it's +here?" But "my dears" were deaf to the hint. Maryanne still sat +sullen in the corner, and Sarah Jane stood bolt upright, with ears +erect, ready to listen, ready to speak, ready to interfere with +violence should the moment come when anything was to be gained on her +side by doing so.</p> + +<p>They went to the work in hand, with very little of the preamble of +courtesy. Yes; Brisket would marry her on the terms proposed by +Jones. He could see his way if he had a hundred pounds down, and the +bill of the Firm at three months for the remaining sum.</p> + +<p>"Not three months, Brisket; six months," suggested Brown. But in this +matter Brisket was quite firm, and Mr. Brown gave way.</p> + +<p>But, as all of them knew, the heat of the battle would concern the +names which were to be written on the bill. Brisket demanded that the +bill should be from the firm. Jones held that as a majority of the +firm were willing that this should be so, Mr. Brown was legally +entitled to make the bill payable at the bank out of the funds of the +house. In this absurd opinion he was supported violently by his wife. +Brisket, of course, gave no opinion on the subject. It was not for +him to interfere among the partners. All he said was, that the bill +of the firm had been promised to him, and that he shouldn't see his +way with anything else. Mr. Brown hesitated,—pondering painfully +over the deed he was called upon to do. He knew that he was being +asked to rob the man he loved;—but he knew also, that if he did not +do so, he must go forth from his home. And then, when he might be in +want of comfort, the child for whose sake he should do so would turn +from him without love or pity.</p> + +<p>"Jones and me would do it together," said Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"Jones won't do nothing of the kind," said Jones's careful wife.</p> + +<p>"It would be no good if he did," said Brisket. "And, I'll tell you +what it is, I'm not going to be made a fool of; I must know how it's +to be at once, or I'm off." And he put out his hand as though to take +up his hat.</p> + +<p>"What fools you are!" said Maryanne, speaking from her chair in the +corner. "There's not one of you knows George Robinson. Ask him to +give his name to the bill, and he'll do it instantly."</p> + +<p>"Who is it wants the name of George Robinson?" said the voice of that +injured man, as at the moment he entered the room. "George Robinson +is here." And then he looked round upon the assembled councillors, +and his eyes rested at last with mingled scorn and sorrow upon the +face of Maryanne Brown;—with mingled scorn and sorrow, but not with +anger. "George Robinson is here; who wants his name?—and why?"</p> + +<p>"Will you take a cup of tea, George?" said Mr. Brown, as soon as he +was able to overcome his first dismay.</p> + +<p>"Maryanne," said Robinson, "why is that man here?" and he pointed to +Brisket.</p> + +<p>"Ask them," said Maryanne, and she turned her face away from him, in +towards the wall.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Brown, why is he here? Why is your daughter's former lover here +on the eve of her marriage with me?"</p> + +<p>"I will answer that question, if you please," said Jones, stepping +up.</p> + +<p>"You!" And Robinson, looking at him from head to foot, silenced him +with his look. "You answer me! From you I will take no answer in this +matter. With you I will hold no parley on this subject. I have spoken +to two whom I loved, and they have given me no reply. There is one +here whom I do not love and he shall answer me. Mr. Brisket, though I +have not loved you, I have believed you to be an honest man. Why are +you here?"</p> + +<p>"To see if we can agree about my marrying that young woman," said +Brisket, nodding at her with his head, while he still kept his hands +in his trousers' pockets.</p> + +<p>"Ah! Is it so? There she is, Mr. Brisket; and now, for the third +time, I shall go out from your presence, renouncing her charms in +your favour. When first I did so at the dancing-room, I was afraid of +your brute strength, because the crowd was looking on and I knew you +could carry out your unmanly threat. And when I wrote that paper the +second time, you had again threatened me, and I was again afraid. My +heart was high on other matters, and why should I have sacrificed +myself? Now I renounce her again; but I am not afraid,—for my heart +is high on nothing."</p> + +<p>"George, George!" said Maryanne, jumping from her seat. "Leave him, +leave him, and I'll <span class="nowrap">promise—"</span> +And then she seized hold of his arm. +For the moment some touch of a woman's feeling had reached her heart. +At that instant she perhaps recognized,—if only for the instant, +that true love is worth more than comfort, worth more than well +assured rations of bread and meat, and a secure roof. For that once +she felt rather than understood that an honest heart is better than a +strong arm. But it was too late.</p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table style="margin: 0 auto" cellpadding="4px"> + <tr> + <td align="center"> + <a href="images/il4.jpg"> + <img src="images/il4-t.jpg" height="500" + alt="Robinson defies his rival." /></a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="center"> + <span class="caption">Robinson defies his rival.<br /> + Click to <a href="images/il4.jpg">ENLARGE</a></span> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + + +<p>"No," said he, "I'll have no promise from you;—your words are false. +I've humbled myself as the dust beneath your feet, because I loved +you,—and, therefore, you have treated me as the dust. The man who +will crawl to a woman will ever be so treated."</p> + +<p>"You are about right there, old fellow," said Brisket.</p> + +<p>"Leave me, I say." For still she held his arm. She still held his +arm, for she saw by his eye what he intended, though no one else had +seen.</p> + +<p>"You have twitted me with my cowardice," he said; "but you shall see +that I am no coward. He is the coward!" and he pointed with his +finger to Brisket. "He is the coward, for he will undergo no risk." +And then, without further notice, George Robinson flew at the +butcher's throat.</p> + +<p>It was very clear that Brisket himself had suspected no such attack, +for till the moment at which he felt Robinson's fingers about his +cravat, he had still stood with his hands in the pockets of his +trousers. He was very strong, and when his thoughts were well made up +to the idea of a fight, could in his own way be quick enough with his +fists; but otherwise he was slow in action, nor was he in any way +passionate.</p> + +<p>"Halloo," he said, striving to extricate himself, and hardly able to +articulate, as the handkerchief tightened itself about his neck. +"Ugh-h-h." And getting his arm round Robinson's ribs he tried to +squeeze his assailant till he should drop his hold.</p> + +<p>"I will have his tongue from his mouth," shouted Robinson, and as he +spoke, he gave another twist to the handkerchief.</p> + +<p>"Oh, laws," said Mrs. Jones. "The poor man will be choked," and she +laid hold of the tail of Robinson's coat, pulling at it with all her +strength.</p> + +<p>"Don't, don't," said Mr. Brown. "George, George, you shall have her; +indeed you shall,—only leave him."</p> + +<p>Maryanne the while looked on, as ladies of yore did look on when +knights slaughtered each other for their smiles. And perhaps of yore +the hearts of those who did look on were as cold and callous as was +hers. For one moment of enthusiasm she had thought she loved, but now +again she was indifferent. It might be settled as well this way as +any other.</p> + +<p>At length Brisket succeeded in actually forcing his weak assailant +from him, Mrs. Jones the while lending him considerable assistance; +and then he raised his heavy fist. Robinson was there opposite to +him, helpless and exhausted, just within his reach; and he raised his +heavy fist to strike him down.</p> + +<p>He raised his fist, and then he let it fall. "No," said he; "I'm +blowed if I'll hit you. You're better stuff than I thought you was. +And now look here, young man; there she is. If she'll say that she'll +have you, I'll walk out, and I won't come across you or she any +more."</p> + +<p>Maryanne, when she heard this, raised her face and looked steadily at +Robinson. If, however, she had any hope, that hope was fruitless.</p> + +<p>"I have renounced her twice," said he, "and now I renounce her again. +It is not now from fear. Mr. Brown, you have my authority for +accepting that bill in the name of the Firm." Then he left the room +and went forth into the street.</p> + + +<p><a name="c18" id="c18"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER XVIII.</h3> +<h4>AN EVENING AT THE "GOOSE AND GRIDIRON."<br /> </h4> + + +<p>Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and +Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied the +practices of another debating society, which held its sittings +farther west. In some respects they did so, and were perhaps even +servile in their imitation. They divided themselves into parties, of +which each had an ostensible leader. But then there was always some +ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather +round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming +between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from +beneath his feet by new aspirants. The members never called each +other by their own names, but addressed each always as "The worthy +Goose," speaking at such moments with the utmost courtesy. This would +still be done, though the speaker were using all his energy to show +that that other Goose was in every sense unworthy. They had a +perpetual chairman, for whom they affected the most unbounded +respect. He was generally called "The Grand," his full title being +"The Most Worthy Grand Goose;" and members on their legs, when they +wished to address the meeting with special eloquence, and were about +to speak words which they thought peculiarly fit for public +attention, would generally begin by thus invoking him. "Most Worthy +Grand," they would say. But this when done by others than well +accustomed speakers, was considered as a work either of arrogance or +of ignorance. This great officer was much loved among them, and +familiarly he was called "My Grand." Though there was an immensity of +talk at these meetings, men speaking sometimes by the half hour whose +silence the club would have been willing to purchase almost at any +price, there were not above four established orators. There were four +orators, of each of whom it was said that he copied the manner and +tone of some great speaker in that other society. There was our +friend Robinson, who in the elegance of his words, and the brilliancy +of his ideas, far surpassed any other Goose. His words were +irresistible, and his power in that assembly unequalled. But yet, as +many said, it was power working only for evil. The liberal party to +which he had joined himself did not dare to stand without him; but +yet, if the whispers that got abroad were true, they would only too +gladly have dispensed with him. He was terrible as a friend; but then +he could be more terrible as a foe.</p> + +<p>Then there was Crowdy,—Crowdy, whose high-flown ideas hardly tallied +with the stern realities of his life. Crowdy was the leader of those +who had once held firmly by Protection. Crowdy had been staunchly +true to his party since he had a party, though it had been said of +him that the adventures of Crowdy in search of a party had been very +long and very various. There had been no Goose with a bitterer tongue +than Crowdy; but now in these days a spirit of quiescence had fallen +on him; and though he spoke as often as ever, he did not wield so +deadly a tomahawk.</p> + +<p>Then there was the burly Buggins, than whom no Goose had a more +fluent use of his vernacular. He was not polished as Robinson, nor +had he ever possessed the exquisite keenness of Crowdy. But in +speaking he always hit the nail on the head, and carried his hearers +with him by the energy and perspicuity of his argument. But by +degrees the world of the Goose and Gridiron had learned that Buggins +talked of things which he did not understand, and which he had not +studied. His facts would not bear the light. Words fell from his +mouth sweeter than honey; but sweet as they were they were of no +avail. It was pleasant to hear Buggins talk, but men knew that it was +useless.</p> + +<p>But perhaps the most remarkable Goose in that assembly, as decidedly +he was the most popular, was old Pan. He traced his birth to the +mighty blood of the great Pancabinets, whose noble name he still +proudly bore. Every one liked old Pancabinet, and though he did not +now possess, and never had possessed, those grand oratorical powers +which distinguished so highly the worthy Geese above mentioned, no +Goose ever rose upon his legs more sure of respectful attention. The +sway which he bore in that assembly was very wonderful, for he was an +old man, and there were there divers Geese of unruly spirit. Lately +he had associated himself much with our friend Robinson, for which +many blamed him. But old Pancabinet generally knew what he was about, +and having recognized the tremendous power of the young merchant from +Bishopsgate Street, was full sure that he could get on better with +him than he could against him.</p> + +<p>It was pleasant to see "My Grand" as he sat in his big arm-chair, +with his beer before him, and his long pipe in his mouth. A benign +smile was ever on his face, and yet he showed himself plainly +conscious that authority lived in his slightest word, and that he had +but to nod to be obeyed. That pipe was constant in his hand, and was +the weapon with which he signified his approbation of the speakers. +When any great orator would arise and address him as Most Worthy +Grand, he would lay his pipe for an instant on the table, and, +crossing his hands on his ample waistcoat, would bow serenely to the +Goose on his legs. Then, not allowing the spark to be extinguished on +his tobacco, he would resume the clay, and spread out over his head +and shoulders a long soft cloud of odorous smoke. But when any +upstart so addressed him,—any Goose not entitled by character to use +the sonorous phrase,—he would still retain his pipe, and simply wink +his eye. It was said that this distinction quite equalled the +difference between big type and little. Perhaps the qualification +which was most valued among The Geese, and most specially valued by +The Worthy Grand, was a knowledge of the Forms of the Room, as it was +called. These rules or formulas, which had probably been gradually +invented for the complication of things which had once been too +simple, were so numerous that no Goose could remember them all who +was not very constant in his attention, and endowed with an accurate +memory. And in this respect they were no doubt useful;—that when +young and unskilled Geese tried to monopolize the attention of the +Room, they would be constantly checked and snubbed, and at last +subdued and silenced, by some reference to a forgotten form. No Goose +could hope to get through a lengthy speech without such interruption +till he had made the Forms of the Room a long and painful study.</p> + +<p>On the evening in question,—that same evening on which Robinson had +endeavoured to tear out the tongue of Brisket,—the Geese were +assembled before eight o'clock. A motion that had been made elsewhere +for the repeal of the paper duties was to be discussed. It was known +that the minds of many Geese were violently set against a measure +which they presumed to be most deleterious to the country; but old +Pan, under the rigorous instigation of Robinson, had given in his +adhesion, and was prepared to vote for the measure,—and to talk for +it also, should there be absolute necessity. Buggins also was on the +same side,—for Buggins was by trade a radical. But it was felt by +all that the debate would be nothing unless Robinson should be there +to "chaw up" Crowdy, as had been intimated to our friend by that +worthy Goose the young Poppins.</p> + +<p>But at eight o'clock and at a quarter past eight Robinson was not +there. Crowdy, not wishing to lacerate his foe till that foe should +be there to feel the wounds, sat silent in his usual seat. +Pancabinet, who understood well the beauty of silence, would not +begin the fray. Buggins was ever ready to talk, but he was cunning +enough to know that a future opportunity might be more valuable than +the present one. Then up jumped Poppins. Now Poppins was no orator, +but he felt that as the friend of Robinson, he was bound to address +the meeting on the present occasion. There were circumstances which +should be explained. "Most worthy +<span class="nowrap">Grand,—"</span> he began, starting +suddenly to his legs; whereupon the worthy Grand slightly drew back +his head, still holding his pipe between his lips, and winked at the +unhappy Poppins. "As the friend of the absent +<span class="nowrap">Robinson—"</span> he went on; +but he was at once interrupted by loud cries of "order" from every +side of the Room. And, worse than that, the Grand frowned at him. +There was no rule more established than that which forbade the name +of any Goose to be mentioned. "I beg the Grand's pardon," continued +Poppins; "I mean the absent worthy Goose. As his friend I rise to say +a few words. I know he feels the greatest interest about this +measure, which has been brought forward in the House of +<span class="nowrap">C—"</span> But +again he was interrupted. "Order, order, order," was shouted at him +by vociferous Geese on every side, and the Grand frowned at him +twice. When the Grand had frowned at a member three times, that +member was silenced for the night. In this matter the assembly at the +"Goose and Gridiron" had not copied their rule from any other Body. +But it is worthy of consideration whether some other Body might not +do well to copy theirs. "I beg the Grand's pardon again," said the +unhappy Poppins; "but I meant in another place." Hereupon a worthy +Goose got up and suggested that their numbers should be counted. Now +there was a rule that no debate could be continued unless a dozen +Geese were present; and a debate once closed, was closed for that +night. When such a hint was given to the Grand, it became the Grand's +duty to count his Geese, and in order to effect this in accordance +with the constitution of the assembly, it was necessary that the +servants should withdraw. Strangers also were sometimes present, and +at such moments they were politely asked to retire. When the +suggestion was made, the suggestor no doubt knew that the requisite +number was not there, but it usually happened on such occasions that +some hangers-on were at hand to replenish the room. A Goose or two +might be eating bread and cheese in the little parlour,—for food +could not be introduced into the debating-room; and a few of the +younger Geese might often be found amusing themselves with the young +lady at the bar. Word would be passed to them that the Grand was +about to count, and indeed they would hear the tap of his +tobacco-stopper on the table. Then there would be a rush among these +hungry and amorous Geese, and so the number would be made up. That +they called making a flock.</p> + +<p>When the suggestion was given on the present occasion the Grand put +down his tankard from his hand and proceeded to the performance of +his duty. Turning the mouthpiece of his long pipe-clay out from him, +he pointed it slowly to one after another, counting them as he so +pointed. First he counted up old Pancabinet, and a slight twinkle +might be seen in the eyes of the two old men as he did so. Then, +turning his pipe round the room, he pointed at them all, and it was +found that there were fifteen present. "There is a flock, and the +discreet and worthy Goose is in possession of the room," he said, +bowing to Poppins. And Poppins again began his speech.</p> + +<p>It was but a blundering affair, as was too often the case with the +speeches made there; and then when Poppins sat down, the great Crowdy +rose slowly to his legs. We will not attempt to give the speech of +this eloquent Goose at length, for the great Crowdy often made long +speeches. It may suffice to say that having a good cause he made the +best of it, and that he pitched into our poor Robinson most +unmercifully, always declaring as he did so that as his friend the +enterprising and worthy Goose was absent, his own mouth was +effectually closed. It may be noted here that whenever a Goose was in +commerce the epithet "enterprising" was always used when he was +mentioned; and if he held or ever had held a service of trust, as +Poppins did, he was called the "discreet" Goose. And then, just as +Crowdy finished his speech, the swinging door of the room was opened, +and Robinson himself started up to his accustomed place.</p> + +<p>It was easy to see that both the inner man had been disturbed and the +outer. His hair and clothes had been ruffled in the embrace with +Brisket, and his heart had been ruffled in its encounter with +Maryanne. He had come straight from Bishopsgate Street to the "Goose +and Gridiron;" and now when he walked up to his seat, all the Geese +remained silent waiting for him to declare himself.</p> + +<p>"Most worthy Grand," he began; and immediately the long pipe was laid +upon the table and the hands of the Grand were crossed upon his +bosom. "A circumstance has occurred to-night, which unfits me for +these debates." "No, no, no," was shouted on one side; and "hear, +hear, hear," on the other; during which the Grand again bowed and +then resumed his pipe.</p> + +<p>"If the chamber will allow me to wander away from paper for a moment, +and to open the sores of a bleeding +<span class="nowrap">heart—"</span></p> + +<p>"Question, question," was then called by a jealous voice.</p> + +<p>"The enterprising and worthy Goose is perfectly in order," said the +burly Buggins. "Many a good heart will bleed before long if this +debate is to be choked and smothered by the cackle of the incapable."</p> + +<p>"I submit that the question before the chamber is the repeal of the +paper duties," said the jealous voice, "and not the bleeding heart of +the enterprising and worthy Goose."</p> + +<p>"The question before the cabinet is," said My Grand, "that the +chamber considers that two millions a-year will be lost for ever by +the repeal of the paper duties; but if the enterprising and worthy +Goose have any personal remarks to make bearing on that subject, he +will be in order."</p> + +<p>"It is a matter of privilege," suggested Poppins.</p> + +<p>"A personal explanation is always allowed," said Robinson, +indignantly; "nor did I think that any member of this chamber would +have had the baseness to stop my voice +<span class="nowrap">when—"</span></p> + +<p>"Order—order—order!"</p> + +<p>"I may have been wrong to say baseness in this chamber, however base +the worthy Goose may be; and, therefore, with permission of our +worthy Grand, I will substitute 'hardihood.'" Whereupon the worthy +Grand again bowed. But still there were cries of question from the +side of the room opposite to that on which Robinson sat.</p> + +<p>Then old Pancabinet rose from his seat, and all voices were hushed.</p> + +<p>"If I may be allowed to make a suggestion," said he, "I would say +that the enterprising and worthy Goose should be heard on a matter +personal to himself. It may very probably be that the privileges of +this chamber are concerned; and I think I may say that any worthy +Goose speaking on matters affecting privilege in this chamber is +always heard with that attention which the interest of the subject +demands." After that there was no further interruption, and Robinson +was allowed to open his bleeding heart.</p> + +<p>"Most worthy Grand," he again began, and again the pipe was laid +down, for Robinson was much honoured. "I come here hot from a scene +of domestic woe, which has robbed me of all political discretion, and +made the paper duty to me an inscrutable mystery. The worthy Geese +here assembled see before them a man who has been terribly injured; +one in whose mangled breast Fate has fixed her sharpest dagger, and +poisoned the blade before she fixed it." "No—no—no." +"Hear—hear—hear." "Yes, my Grand; she poisoned the blade before she +fixed it. On Tuesday next I had +<span class="nowrap">hoped—"</span> and here his voice became +inexpressibly soft and tender, "on Tuesday next I had hoped to become +one bone and one flesh with a fair girl whom I have loved for +months;—fair indeed to the outer eye, as flesh and form can make +her; but ah! how hideously foul within. And I had hoped on this day +se'nnight to have received the congratulations of this chamber. I +need not say that it would have been the proudest moment of my life. +But, my Grand, that has all passed away. Her conduct has been the +conduct of a Harpy. She is a Regan. She is false, heartless, and +cruel; and this night I have renounced her."</p> + +<p>Hereupon a small Goose, very venomous, but vehemently attached to the +privileges of his chamber, gave notice of a motion that that false +woman should be brought before the Most Worthy Grand, and heard at +the bar of the "Goose and Gridiron." But another worthy Goose showed +that the enterprising and worthy Goose had by his own showing +renounced the lady himself, and that, therefore, there could have +been no breach of the privilege of the chamber. The notice of motion +was then withdrawn.</p> + +<p>"O woman!" continued Robinson, "how terrible is thy witchcraft, and +how powerful are thy charms! Thou spakest, and Adam fell. Thou +sangest, and Samson's strength was gone. The head of the last of the +prophets was the reward of thy meretricious feet. 'Twas thy damnable +eloquence that murdered the noble Duncan. 'Twas thy lascivious beauty +that urged the slaughter of the noble Dane. As were Adam and Samson, +so am I. As were Macbeth and the foul king in the play, so is my +rival Brisket. Most worthy Grand, this chamber must hold me excused +if I decline to-night to enter upon the subject of the paper duties." +Then Robinson left the chamber, and the discussion was immediately +adjourned to that day se'nnight.</p> + + +<p><a name="c19" id="c19"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER XIX.</h3> +<h4>GEORGE ROBINSON'S MARRIAGE.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>Thus ended George Robinson's dream of love. Never again will he +attempt that phase of life. Beauty to him in future shall be a thing +on which the eye may rest with satisfaction, as it may on the +sculptor's chiselled marble, or on the varied landscape. It shall be +a thing to look at,—possibly to possess. But for the future George +Robinson's heart shall be his own. George Robinson is now wedded, and +he will admit of no second wife. On that same Tuesday which was to +have seen him made the legal master of Maryanne's charms, he vowed to +himself that Commerce should be his bride; and, as in the dead of +night he stood on the top of the hill of Ludgate, he himself, as +high-priest, performed the ceremony. "Yes," said he on that occasion, +"O goddess, here I devote myself to thy embraces, to thine and thine +only. To live for thee shall satisfy both my heart and my ambition. +If thou wilt be kind, no softer loveliness shall be desired by me. +George Robinson has never been untrue to his vows, nor shalt thou, O +my chosen one, find him so now. For thee will I labour, straining +every nerve to satisfy thy wishes. Woman shall henceforward be to me +a doll for the adornment of whose back it will be my business to sell +costly ornaments. In no other light will I regard the loveliness of +her form. O sweet Commerce, teach me thy lessons! Let me ever buy in +the cheapest market and sell in the dearest. Let me know thy hidden +ways, and if it be that I am destined for future greatness, and may +choose the path by which it shall be reached, it is not great wealth +at which I chiefly aim. Let it rather be said of me that I taught the +modern world of trade the science of advertisement."</p> + +<p>Thus did he address his new celestial bride, and as he spoke a +passing cloud rolled itself away from before the moon's face, and the +great luminary of the night shone down upon his upturned face. "I +accept the omen," said Robinson, with lightened heart; and from that +moment his great hopes never again altogether failed him, though he +was doomed to pass through scorching fires of commercial +disappointment.</p> + +<p>But it must not be supposed that he was able to throw off his passion +for Maryanne Brown without a great inward struggle. Up to that +moment, in which he found Brisket in Mr. Brown's room, and, as he +stood for a moment on the landing-place, heard that inquiry made as +to the use of his name, he had believed that Maryanne would at last +be true to him. Poppins, indeed, had hinted his suspicions, but in +the way of prophecy Poppins was a Cassandra. Poppins saw a good deal +with those twinkling eyes of his, but Robinson did not trust to the +wisdom of Poppins. Up to that hour he had believed in Maryanne, and +then in the short flash of an instant the truth had come upon him. +She had again promised herself to Brisket, if Brisket would only take +her. Let Brisket have her if he would. A minute's thought was +sufficient to bring him to this resolve. But hours of scorching +torment must be endured ere he could again enjoy the calm working of +a sound mind in a sound body.</p> + +<p>It has been told how in the ecstasy of his misery he poured out the +sorrows of his bleeding heart before his brethren at the debating +club. They, with that ready sympathy which they always evince for the +success or failure of any celebrated brother, at once adjourned +themselves; and Robinson walked out, followed at a distance by the +faithful Poppins.</p> + +<p>"George, old fellow!" said the latter, touching his friend on the +shoulder, at the corner of Bridge Street.</p> + +<p>"Leave me!" exclaimed Robinson. "Do not pry into sorrows which you +cannot understand. I would be alone with myself this night."</p> + +<p>"You'd be better if you'd come to the 'Mitre,' and smoke a pipe," +said Poppins.</p> + +<p>"Pipe me no pipes," said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"Oh, come. You'd better quit that, and take it easy. After all, isn't +it better so, than you should find her out when it was too late? +There's many would be glad to have your chance."</p> + +<p>"Man!" shouted Robinson, and as he did so he turned round upon his +friend and seized him by the collar of his coat. "I loved that woman. +Forty thousand Poppinses could not, with all their quantity of love, +make up my sum."</p> + +<p>"Very likely not," said Poppins.</p> + +<p>"Would'st thou drink up Esil? Would'st thou eat a crocodile?"</p> + +<p>"Heaven forbid," said Poppins.</p> + +<p>"I'll do it. And if thou prate of mountains—"</p> + +<p>"But I didn't."</p> + +<p>"No, Poppins, no. That's true. Though I should be Hamlet, yet art not +thou Laërtes. But Poppins, thou art Horatio."</p> + +<p>"I'm Thomas Poppins, old fellow; and I mean to stick to you till I +see you safe in bed."</p> + +<p>"Thou art Horatio, for I've found thee honest. There are more things +in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamed of in our philosophy."</p> + +<p>"Come, old fellow."</p> + +<p>"Poppins, give me that man that is not passion's slave, and I will +wear him in my heart's core; ay, in my heart of hearts;—as I do +thee." And then, falling on Poppins' neck, George Robinson embraced +him.</p> + +<p>"You'll be better after that," said Poppins. "Come, let's have a +little chat over a drop of something hot, and then we'll go to bed. +I'll stand Sammy."</p> + +<p>"Something hot!" said Robinson. "I tell you, Poppins, that everything +is hot to me. Here, here I'm hot." And then he struck his breast. +"And yet I'm very cold. 'Tis cold to be alone; cold to have lost +one's all. Poppins, I've loved a harpy."</p> + +<p>"I believe you're about right there," said Poppins.</p> + +<p>"A harpy! Her nails will grow to talons, and on her feet are hoofs. +Within she is horn all over. There's not a drop of blood about her +heart. Oh, Poppins!"</p> + +<p>"You're very well out of it, George. But yet I'm sorry for you. I am, +indeed."</p> + +<p>"And now, good-night. This way is mine; yours there."</p> + +<p>"What! to the bridge? No; I'm blessed if you do; at any rate not +alone."</p> + +<p>"Poppins, tell me this; was Hamlet mad, or did he feign so?"</p> + +<p>"Faith, very likely the latter. Many do that now. There are better +rations in Bedlam, than in any of the gaols;—let alone the +workhouses."</p> + +<p>"Ay; go mad for rations! There's no feigning there, Poppins. The +world is doing that. But, Poppins, Hamlet feigned; and so do I. Let +the wind blow as it may, I know a hawk from a handsaw. Therefore you +need not fear me."</p> + +<p>"I don't; but I won't let you go on to that bridge alone. You'll be +singing that song of a suicide, till you're as low as low. Come and +drink a drop of something, and wish Brisket joy with his wife."</p> + +<p>"I will," said Robinson. And so the two went to the "Mitre;" and +there, comforted by the truth and honesty of his friend, Robinson +resolved that he would be weak no longer, but, returning at once to +his work, would still struggle on to rescue the house of Brown, +Jones, and Robinson from that bourne of bankruptcy to which it was +being hurried by the incompetency of his partners.</p> + +<p>The following day was Sunday, and he rose at twelve with a racking +headache. He had promised to take a chop with his friend at two, and +at that hour he presented himself, with difficulty, at Mrs. Poppins's +room. She was busy laying the cloth as he entered, but his friend was +seated, half-dressed, unshorn, pale, and drooping, in an old +arm-chair near the window.</p> + +<p>"It's a shame for you, George Robinson," said the lady, as he +entered, "so it is. Look at that, for a father of a family,—coming +home at three o'clock in the morning, and not able to make his way +upstairs till I went down and fetched him!"</p> + +<p>"I told her that we were obliged to sit out the debate," said +Poppins, winking eagerly at his friend.</p> + +<p>"Debate, indeed! A parcel of geese as you call yourself! Only geese +go to bed betimes, and never get beastly drunk as you was, Poppins."</p> + +<p>"I took a bit of stewed cheese, which always disagrees with me."</p> + +<p>"Stewed cheese never disagrees with you when I'm with you. I'll tell +you what it is, Poppins; if you ain't at home and in bed by eleven +o'clock next Saturday, I'll go down to the 'Goose and Gridiron,' and +I'll have that old Grandy out of his chair. That's what I will. I +suppose you're so bad you can't eat a bit of nothing?" In answer to +which, Robinson said that he did not feel himself to be very hungry.</p> + +<p>"It's a blessing to Maryanne to have lost you; that's what it is."</p> + +<p>"Stop, woman," said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"Don't you woman me any womans. I know what stuff you're made off. +It's a blessing for her not to have to do with a man who comes home +roaring drunk, like a dead log, at three o'clock in the morning."</p> + +<p>"Now, Polly,—" began poor Poppins.</p> + +<p>"Oh, ah, Polly! Yes. Polly's very well. But it was a bad day for +Polly when she first sat eyes on you. There was Sergeant MacNash +never took a drop too much in his life. And you're worse than +Robinson ten times. He's got no children at home, and no wife. If he +kills hisself with tobacco and gin, nobody will be much the worse. I +know one who's got well out of it, anyway. And now, if either of you +are able to eat, you can come." Robinson did not much enjoy his +afternoon, but the scenes, as they passed, served to reconcile him to +that lonely life which must, henceforward, be his fate. What was +there to enjoy in the fate of Poppins, and what in the proposed +happiness of Brisket? Could not a man be sufficient for himself +alone? Was there aught of pleasantness in that grinding tongue of his +friend's wife? Should not one's own flesh,—the bone of one's +bone,—bind up one's bruises, pouring in balm with a gentle hand? +Poppins was wounded sorely about the head and stomach, and of what +nature was the balm which his wife administered? He, Robinson, had +longed for married bliss, but now he longed no longer.</p> + +<p>On the following Monday and Tuesday he went silently about his work, +speaking hardly a word to anybody. Mr. Brown greeted him with an +apologetic sigh, and Jones with a triumphant sneer; but he responded +to neither of them. He once met Maryanne in the passage, and bowed to +her with a low salute, but he did not speak to her. He did not speak +to her, but he saw the colour in her cheek, and watched her downcast +eye. He was still weak as water, and had she clung to him even then, +he would even then have forgiven her! But she passed on, and, as she +left the house, she slammed the door behind her.</p> + +<p>A little incident happened on that day, which is mentioned to show +that, even in his present frame of mind, Robinson was able to take +advantage of the smallest incident on behalf of his firm. A slight +crowd had been collected round the door in the afternoon, for there +had been a quarrel between Mr. Jones and one of the young men, in +which loud words had reached the street, and a baby, which a woman +held in her arms, had been somewhat pressed and hurt. As soon as the +tidings reached Robinson's ears he was instantly at his desk, and +before the trifling accident was two hours passed, the following bill +was in the printer's +<span class="nowrap">hands;—</span><br /> </p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table style="margin: 0 auto" cellpadding="1"> + <tr> + <td align="center"> + <p class="noindent"><span class="large">CAUTION + TO MOTHERS!—MOTHERS, BEWARE!</span></p> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + +<blockquote> +<p>Three suckling infants were yesterday pressed to death in their +mothers' arms by the crowd which had congregated before the house of +Brown, Jones, and Robinson, at Nine times Nine, Bishopsgate Street, +in their attempts to be among the first purchasers of that wonderful +lot of cheap but yet excellent flannels, which B., J., and R. have +just imported. Such flannels, at such a price, were never before +offered to the British public. The sale, at the figures quoted below, +will continue for three days more.</p> + +<p><i>Magenta House.</i><br /> </p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>And then followed the list.</p> + +<p>It had chanced that Mr. Brown had picked up a lot of remnants from a +wholesale house in Houndsditch, and the genius of Robinson +immediately combined that fact with the little accident above +mentioned.</p> + + +<p><a name="c20" id="c20"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER XX.</h3> +<h4>SHOWING HOW MR. BRISKET DIDN'T SEE HIS WAY.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>Then two months passed by, and the summer was over. Early in +September Mr. Brown had been taken ill, and he went to Margate for a +fortnight with his unmarried daughter. This had been the means of +keeping Brisket quiet for a while with reference to that sum of money +which he was to receive, and had given a reason why the marriage with +him should not be performed at once. On Mr. Brown's return, the +matter was discussed, and Brisket became impatient. But the middle of +October had come before any steps were taken to which it will be +necessary to allude in the annals of the firm.</p> + +<p>At that time Brisket, on two successive days, was closeted with his +proposed father-in-law, and it was evident to Robinson that after +each of these interviews Mr. Brown was left in an unhappy frame of +mind. At this time the affairs of the shop were not absolutely +ruinous,—or would not have been so had there been a proper watch +kept on the cash taken over the counter. The heaviest amounts due +were to the stationer, printer, and advertising agents. This was +wrong, for such people of course press for their money; and whatever +hitch or stoppage there may be in trade, there should, at any rate, +be no hitch or stoppage in the capability for advertising. For the +goods disposed of by the house payments had been made, if not with +absolute punctuality on every side, at any rate so fairly that some +supply was always forthcoming. The account at the bank had always +been low; and, though a few small bills had been discounted, nothing +like a mercantile system of credit had been established. All this was +wrong, and had already betrayed the fact that Brown, Jones, and +Robinson were little people, trading in a little way. It is useless +to conceal the fact now, and these memoirs would fail to render to +commerce that service which is expected from them, were the truth on +this matter kept back from the public. Brown, Jones, and Robinson had +not soared upwards into the empyrean vault of commercial greatness on +eagle's wings. There are bodies so ponderous in their nature, that +for them no eagle's wings can be found. The firm had commenced their +pecuniary transactions on a footing altogether weak and +unsubstantial. They had shown their own timidity, and had confessed, +by the nature of their fiscal transactions, that they knew themselves +to be small. To their advertising agents they should never have been +behindhand in their payments for one day; but they should have been +bold in demanding credit from their bank, and should have given their +orders to the wholesale houses without any of that hesitation or +reserve which so clearly indicates feebleness of purpose.</p> + +<p>But in spite of this acknowledged weakness, a brisk trade over the +counter had been produced; and though the firm had never owned a +large stock, an unremitting sale was maintained of small goods, such +as ribbons, stockings, handkerchiefs, and cotton gloves. The +Katakarion shirts also had been successful, and now there was a hope +that, during the coming winter, something might be done in African +monkey muffs. At that time, therefore, the bill of the house at three +months, though not to be regarded as a bank-note, was not absolutely +waste paper. How far Brisket's eyes were open on this matter cannot +now be said; but he still expressed himself willing to take one +hundred pounds in cash, and the remainder of Maryanne's fortune in +the bill of the firm at three months.</p> + +<p>And then Mr. Brisket made a third visit to Bishopsgate Street. On all +these occasions he passed by the door of the little room in which +Robinson sat, and well did his late rival know his ponderous step. +His late rival;—for Brisket was now welcome to come and go. "Mr. +Brown!" said he, on one occasion, "I have come here to have a +settlement about this thing at once."</p> + +<p>"I've been ill, Brisket; very ill, you know," said Mr. Brown, +pleadingly, "and I'm not strong now."</p> + +<p>"But that can't make no difference about the money. Maryanne is +willing, and me also. When Christmas is coming on, it's a busy time +in our trade, and I can't be minding that sort of thing then. If +you've got the cash ready, and that bit of paper, we'll have it off +next week."</p> + +<p>"I've never spoken to him about the paper;" and Mr. Brown, as he +uttered these words, pointed down towards the room in which Robinson +was sitting.</p> + +<p>"Then you'd better," said Brisket. "For I shan't come here again +after to-day. I'll see it out now one way or the other, and so I've +told Maryanne."</p> + +<p>Mr. Brown's sigh, when he heard these words, was prolonged and deep. +"You heard what he said that night," continued Brisket. "You ask him. +He's game for anything of that sort."</p> + +<p>All these words Robinson had overheard, for the doors of the two +rooms were close together, and neither of them had been absolutely +closed. Now was the moment in which it behoved him to act. No false +delicacy as to the nature of the conversation between his partner and +that partner's proposed son-in-law withheld him; but rising from his +seat, he walked straight into the upper room.</p> + +<p>"Here he is, by jingo," said Brisket. "Talk of +<span class="nowrap">the—"</span></p> + +<p>"Speak of an angel and behold his wings," said Robinson, with a faint +smile. "I come on a visit which might befit an angel. Mr. Brown, I +consent that your daughter's dowry shall be paid from the funds of +the firm."</p> + +<p>But Mr. Brown, instead of expressing his thankful gratitude, as was +expected, winked at his partner. The dull Brisket did not perceive +it; but Robinson at once knew that this act of munificence on his +part was not at the moment pleasing to the lady's father.</p> + +<p>"You're a trump," said Brisket; "and when we're settled at home like, +Maryanne and I that is, I hope you'll let bygones be bygones, and +come and take pot luck with us sometimes. If there's a tender bit of +steak about the place it shall be sent to the kitchen fire when you +show your face."</p> + +<p>"Brisket," said Robinson, "there's my hand. I've loved her. I don't +deny it. But you're welcome to her. No woman shall ever sit at the +hearth of George Robinson;—but at her hearth George Robinson will +never sit."</p> + +<p>"You shall be as welcome as if you did," said Brisket; "and a man +can't say no fairer."</p> + +<p>But in the meantime Mr. Brown still continued to wink, and Robinson +understood that his consent to that bill transaction was not in truth +desired. "Perhaps, Mr. Brisket," said he, "as this is a matter of +business, I and my partner had better discuss it for a moment +together. We can go down into my room, Mr. Brown."</p> + +<p>"With all my heart," said Brisket. "But remember this, both of you: +if I don't see my way before I leave the house, I don't come here any +more. I know my way pretty well from Aldersgate Street, and I'm sick +of the road. I've been true to my word all along, and I'll be true to +the end. But if I don't see my way before I leave this house, +remember I'm off."</p> + +<p>"You shouldn't have said that," whispered Brown to his partner as +soon as the two were together.</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"The money won't be there at the end of three months, not if we pay +them other things. And where's the hundred pounds of ready to come +from?"</p> + +<p>"That's your look-out."</p> + +<p>"I haven't got it, George. Jones has it, I know; but I can't get it +out of him."</p> + +<p>"Jones got a hundred pounds! And where should Jones have gotten it?"</p> + +<p>"I know we have been wrong, George; I know we have. But you can't +wonder at me, George; can you? I did bring four thousand pounds into +it; didn't I?"</p> + +<p>"And now you haven't got a hundred pounds!"</p> + +<p>"If I have it's as much as I can say. But Jones has it, and ever so +much more. If Brisket will wait, we can frighten it out of Jones."</p> + +<p>"If I know anything of human nature," said Robinson, "Brisket will +not wait."</p> + +<p>"He would, if you hadn't spoke to him that way. He'd say he wouldn't, +and go away, and Maryanne would blow up; but I should have worked the +money out of Jones at last, and then Brisket would have waited."</p> + +<p>When Mr. Brown had made this disclosure, whispering all the time as +he leaned his head and shoulder on Robinson's upright desk, they both +remained silent for a while. "We have been wrong," he had said; "I +know we have." And Robinson, as he heard the words, perceived that +from the beginning to the end he had been a victim. No wonder that +the business should not have answered, when such confessions as these +were wrung from the senior partner! But the fact alleged by Mr. Brown +in his own excuse was allowed its due weight by Robinson, even at +that moment. Mr. Brown had possessed money,—money which might have +made his old age comfortable and respectable in obscurity. It was not +surprising that he should be anxious to keep in his own hand some +small remnant of his own property. But as for Jones! What excuse +could be made for Jones! Jones had been a thief; and worse than +ordinary thieves, for his thefts were committed on his own friends.</p> + +<p>"And he has got the money," said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes!" said Mr. Brown, "there's no doubt in life about that."</p> + +<p>"Then, by the heaven above us, he shall refund it to the firm from +which he has stolen it," shouted Robinson, striking the desk with his +fist as he did so.</p> + +<p>"Whish, George, whish; Brisket will hear you."</p> + +<p>"Who cares? I have been robbed on every side till I care for nothing! +What is Brisket to me, or what is your daughter? What is anything?"</p> + +<p>"But, George—"</p> + +<p>"Is there no honesty left in the world, Mr. Brown? That there is no +love I had already learned. Ah me, what an age is this in which we +live! Deceit, deceit, deceit;—it is all deceit!"</p> + +<p>"The heart of a man is very deceitful," said Mr. Brown. "And a +woman's especially."</p> + +<p>"Delilah would have been a true wife now-a-days. But never mind. That +man is still there, and he must be answered. I have no hundred pounds +to give him."</p> + +<p>"No, George; no; we're sure of that."</p> + +<p>"When this business is broken up, as broken up it soon will +<span class="nowrap">be—"</span></p> + +<p>"Oh, George, don't say so."</p> + +<p>"Ay, but it will. Then I shall walk out from Magenta House with empty +pockets and with clean hands."</p> + +<p>"But think of me, George. I had four thousand pounds when we began. +Hadn't I, now?"</p> + +<p>"I do think of you, and I forgive you. Now go up to Brisket, for he +will want his answer. I can assist you no further. My name is still +left to me, and of that you may avail yourself. But as for money, +George Robinson has none."</p> + +<p>About half an hour after that, Mr. Brisket again descended the stairs +with his usual ponderous and slow step, and went forth into the +street, shaking the dust from his feet as he did so. He was sore +offended, and vowed in his heart that he would never enter that house +again. He had pressed Mr. Brown home about the money; and that +gentleman had suggested to him, first, that it should be given to him +on the day after the marriage, and then that it should be included in +the bill. "You offered to take it all in one bill before, you know," +said Mr. Brown. Hereupon Brisket began to think that he did not see +his way at all, and finally left the house in great anger.</p> + +<p>He went direct from thence to Mrs. Poppins' lodgings, where he knew +that he would find Miss Brown. Poppins himself was, of course, at his +work, and the two ladies were together.</p> + +<p>"I've come to wish you good-by," he said, as he walked into the room.</p> + +<p>"Laws, Mr. Brisket!" exclaimed Mrs. Poppins.</p> + +<p>"It's all up about this marriage, and so I thought it right to come +and tell you. I began straightforward, and I mean to end +straightforward."</p> + +<p>"You mean to say you're not going to have her," said Mrs. Poppins.</p> + +<p>"Polly, don't make a fool of yourself," said Maryanne. "Do you think +I want the man. Let him go." And then he did go, and Miss Brown was +left without a suitor.</p> + + +<p><a name="c21" id="c21"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER XXI.</h3> +<h4>MR. BROWN IS TAKEN ILL.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>Brisket kept his word, and never entered Magenta House again, nor, as +far as George Robinson is aware, has he seen any of the Brown family +from that day on which he gave up his intended marriage to this +present. For awhile Maryanne Brown protested that she was well +satisfied that this should be so. She declared to Mrs. Poppins that +the man was mercenary, senseless, uninteresting, heavy, and +brutal;—and though in the bosom of her own family she did not speak +out with equal freedom, yet from time to time she dropped words to +show that she was not breaking her heart for William Brisket. But +this mood did not last long. Before winter had come round the +bitterness of gall had risen within her heart, and when Christmas was +there her frame of mind was comfortable neither to herself nor to her +unfortunate father.</p> + +<p>During this time the house still went on. Set a business going, and +it is astonishing how long it will continue to move by the force of +mere daily routine. People flocked in for shirts and stockings, and +young women came there to seek their gloves and ribbons, although but +little was done to attract them, either in the way of advertisement +or of excellence of supply. Throughout this wretched month or two +Robinson knew that failure was inevitable, and with this knowledge it +was almost impossible that he should actively engage himself in his +own peculiar branch of business. There was no confidence between the +partners. Jones was conscious of what was coming and was more eager +than ever to feather his own nest. But in these days Mr. Brown +displayed a terrible activity. He was constantly in the shop, and +though it was evident to all eyes that care and sorrow were heaping +upon his shoulders a burden which he could hardly bear, he watched +his son-in-law with the eyes of an Argus. It was terrible to see him, +and terrible, alas, to hear him;—for at this time he had no reserve +before the men and women engaged behind the counters. At first there +had been a pretence of great love and confidence, but this was now +all over. It was known to all the staff that Mr. Brown watched his +son-in-law, and known also that the youngest partner had been treated +with injustice by them both.</p> + +<p>They in the shop, and even Jones himself, knew little of what in +these days was going on upstairs. But Robinson knew, for his room was +close to that in which Mr. Brown and his daughter lived; and, +moreover, in spite of the ill-feeling which could not but exist +between him and Miss Brown, he passed many hours in that room with +her father. The bitterness of gall had now risen within her breast, +and she had begun to realize that truth which must be so terrible for +a woman, that she had fallen to the ground between two stools. It is +a truth terrible to a woman. There is no position in a man's life of +the same aspect. A man may fail in business, and feel that no further +chance of any real success can ever come in his way; or he may fail +in love, and in the soreness of his heart may know that the pleasant +rippling waters of that fountain are for him dried for ever. But with +a woman the two things are joined together. Her battle must be fought +all in one. Her success in life and her romance must go together, +hand in hand. She is called upon to marry for love, and if she marry +not for love, she disobeys the ordinance of nature and must pay the +penalty. But at the same time all her material fortune depends upon +the nature of that love. An industrious man may marry a silly fretful +woman, and may be triumphant in his counting-house though he be +bankrupt in his drawing-room. But a woman has but the one chance. She +must choose her life's companion because she loves him; but she knows +how great is the ruin of loving one who cannot win for her that +worldly success which all in the world desire to win.</p> + +<p>With Maryanne Brown these considerations had become frightfully +momentous. She had in her way felt the desire for some romance in +life, but she had felt more strongly still how needful it was that +she should attain by her feminine charms a position which would put +her above want. "As long as I have a morsel, you shall have half of +it," her father had said to her more than once. And she had answered +him with terrible harshness, "But what am I to do when you have no +longer a morsel to share with me? When you are ruined, or dead, where +must I then look for support and shelter?" The words were harsh, and +she was a very Regan to utter them. But, nevertheless, they were +natural. It was manifest enough that her father would not provide for +her, and for her there was nothing but Eve's lot of finding an Adam +who would dig for her support. She was hard, coarse,—almost +heartless; but it may perhaps be urged in her favour, that she was +not wilfully dishonest. She had been promised to one man, and though +she did not love him she would have married him, intending to do her +duty. But to this he would not consent, except under certain money +circumstances which she could not command. Then she learned to love +another man, and him she would have married; but prudence told her +that she should not do so until he had a home in which to place her. +And thus she fell to the ground between two stools, and, falling, +perceived that there was nothing before her on which her eye could +rest with satisfaction.</p> + +<p>There are women, very many women, who could bear this, if with +sadness, still without bitterness. It is a lot which many women have +to bear; but Maryanne Brown was one within whose bosom all feelings +were turned to gall by the prospect of such a destiny. What had she +done to deserve such degradation and misfortune? She would have been +an honest wife to either husband! That it could be her own fault in +any degree she did not for a moment admit. It was the fault of those +around her, and she was not the woman to allow such a fault to pass +unavenged.</p> + +<p>"Father," she would say, "you will be in the workhouse before this +new year is ended."</p> + +<p>"I hope not, my child."</p> + +<p>"Hope! What's the good of hoping? You will. And where am I to go +then? Mother left a handsome fortune behind her, and this is what +you've brought us to."</p> + +<p>"I've done everything for the best, Maryanne."</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you give that man the money when you had it? You'd have +had a home then when you'd ruined yourself. Now you'll have no home; +neither shall I."</p> + +<p>All this was very hard to be borne. "She nags at me that dreadful, +George," he once said, as he sat in his old arm-chair, with his head +hanging wearily on his chest, "that I don't know where I am or what +I'm doing. As for the workhouse, I almost wish I was there."</p> + +<p>She would go also to Poppins' lodgings, and there quarrel with her +old friend Polly. It may be that at this time she did not receive all +the respect that had been paid to her some months back, and this +reverse was, to her proud spirit, unendurable. "Polly," she said, "if +you wish to turn your back upon me, you can do so. But I won't put up +with your airs."</p> + +<p>"There's nobody turning their back upon you, only yourself," Polly +replied; "but it's frightful to hear the way you're always +a-grumbling;—as if other people hadn't had their ups and downs +besides you."</p> + +<p>Robinson also was taught by the manner of his friend Poppins that he +could not now expect to receive that high deference which was paid to +him about the time that Johnson of Manchester had been in the +ascendant. Those had been the halcyon days of the firm, and Robinson +had then been happy. Men at that time would point him out as he +passed, as one worthy of notice; his companions felt proud when he +would join them; and they would hint to him, with a mysterious +reverence that was very gratifying, their assurance that he was so +deeply occupied as to make it impossible that he should give his time +to the ordinary slow courtesies of life. All this was over now, and +he felt that he was pulled down with rough hands from the high place +which he had occupied.</p> + +<p>"It's all very well," Poppins would say to him, "but the fact is, +you're a-doing of nothing."</p> + +<p>"If fourteen hours a day—" began Robinson. But Poppins instantly +stopped him.</p> + +<p>"Fourteen hours' work a day is nothing, if you don't do anything. A +man may sweat hard digging holes and filling them up again. But what +I say is, he does not do any good. You've been making out all these +long stories about things that never existed, but what's the world +the better for it;—that's what I want to know. When a man makes a +pair of <span class="nowrap">shoes—."</span> +And so he went on. Coming from such a man as +Poppins, this was hard to be borne. But nevertheless Robinson did +bear it. Men at the "Goose and Gridiron" also would shoulder him +now-a-days, rather than make way for him. Geese whose names had never +been heard beyond the walls of that room would presume to occupy his +place. And on one occasion, when he rose to address the chamber, the +Grand omitted the courtesy that had ever been paid to him, and forgot +to lay down his pipe. This also he bore without flinching.</p> + +<p>It was about the middle of February when a catastrophe happened which +was the immediate forerunner of the fall of the house. Robinson had +been at his desk early in the morning,—for, though his efforts were +now useless, he was always there; and had been struck with dismay by +the loudness of Maryanne's tone as she rebuked her father. Then Mrs. +Jones had joined them, and the battle had raged still more furiously. +The voice of the old man, too, was heard from time to time. When +roused by suffering to anger he would forget to speak in his usual +falsetto treble, and break out in a few natural words of rough +impassioned wrath. At about ten, Mr. Brown came down into Robinson's +room, and, seating himself on a low chair, remained there for awhile +without moving, and almost without speaking. "Is she gone, George?" +he asked at last. "Which of them?" said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"Sarah Jane. I'm not so used to her, and it's very bad." Then +Robinson looked out and said that Mrs. Jones was gone. Whereupon Mr. +Brown returned to his own room.</p> + +<p>Again and again throughout the day Robinson heard the voices; but he +did not go up to the room. He never did go there now, unless +specially called upon to do so by business. At about noon, however, +there came a sudden silence,—a silence so sudden that he noticed it. +And then he heard a quick step across the floor. It was nothing to +him, and he did not move from his seat; but still he kept his ears +open, and sat thoughtless of other matters, as though he expected +that something was about to happen. The room above was perfectly +still, and for a minute or two nothing was done. But then there came +the fall of a quicker step across the room, and the door was opened, +and Maryanne, descending the four stairs which led to his own closet, +was with him in an instant. "George," she said, forgetting all +propriety of demeanour, "father's in a fit!"</p> + +<p>It is not necessary that the scene which followed should be described +with minuteness in these pages. Robinson, of course, went up to Mr. +Brown's room, and a doctor was soon there in attendance upon the sick +man. He had been struck by paralysis, and thus for a time had been +put beyond the reach of his daughters' anger. Sarah Jane was very +soon there, but the wretched state in which the old man was lying +quieted even her tongue. She did not dare to carry on the combat as +she looked on the contorted features and motionless limbs of the poor +wretch as he lay on his bed. On her mind came the conviction that +this was partly her work, and that if she now spoke above her breath, +those around her would accuse her of her cruelty. So she slunk about +into corners, whispering now and again with her husband, and quickly +took herself off, leaving the task of nursing the old man to the +higher courage of her sister.</p> + +<p>And Maryanne's courage sufficed for the work. Now that she had a task +before her she did it;—as she would have done her household tasks +had she become the wife of Brisket or of Robinson. To the former she +would have been a good wife, for he would have required no softness. +She would have been true to him, tending him and his +children;—scolding them from morning to night, and laying not +unfrequently a rough hand upon them. But for this Brisket would not +have cared. He would have been satisfied, and all would have been +well. It is a thousand pities that, in that matter, Brisket could not +have seen his way.</p> + +<p>And now that her woman's services were really needed, she gave them +to her father readily. It cannot be said that she was a cheerful +nurse. Had he been in a state in which cheerfulness would have +relieved him, her words would have again been sharp and pointed. She +was silent and sullen, thinking always of the bad days that were +coming to her. But, nevertheless, she was attentive to him,—and +during the time of his terrible necessity even good to him. It is so +natural to women to be so, that I think even Regan would have nursed +Lear had Lear's body become impotent instead of his mind. There she +sat close to his bed, and there from time to time Robinson would +visit her. In those days they always called each other George and +Maryanne, and were courteous to each other, speaking solely of the +poor old sick man, who was so near to them both. Of their former +joint hopes, no word was spoken then; nor, at any rate as regards the +lady, was there even a thought of love. As to Jones, he very rarely +came there. He remained in the shop below; where the presence of some +member of the firm was very necessary, for, in these days, the number +of hands employed had become low.</p> + +<p>"I suppose it's all up down there," she said one day, and as she +spoke she pointed towards the shop. At this time her father had +regained his consciousness, and had recovered partially the use of +his limbs. But even yet he could not speak so as to be understood, +and was absolutely helpless. The door of his bedroom was open, and +Robinson was sitting in the front room, to which it opened.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid so," said he. "There are creditors who are pressing us; +and now that they have been frightened about Mr. Brown, we shall be +sold up."</p> + +<p>"You mean the advertising people?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; the stationer and printer, and one or two of the agents. The +fact is, that the money, which should have satisfied them, has been +frittered away uselessly."</p> + +<p>"It's gone at any rate," said she. "He hasn't got it," and she +pointed to her father.</p> + +<p>"Nor have I," said Robinson. "I came into it empty-handed, and I +shall go out as empty. No one shall say that I cared more for myself +than for the firm. I've done my best, and we have failed. That's +all."</p> + +<p>"I am not going to blame you, George. My look-out is bad enough, but +I will not say that you did it. It is worse for a woman than for a +man. And what am I to do with him?" And again she pointed towards the +inner room. In answer to this Robinson said something as to the wind +being tempered for the shorn lamb. "As far as I can see," she +continued, "the sheep is best off that knows how to keep its own +wool. It's always such cold comfort as that one gets, when the world +means to thrust one to the wall. It's only the sheep that lets +themselves be shorn. The lions and the tigers know how to keep their +own coats on their own backs. I believe the wind blows colder on poor +naked wretches than it does on those as have their carriages to ride +in. Providence is very good to them that know how to provide for +themselves."</p> + +<p>"You are young," said he, "and beautiful—"</p> + +<p>"Psha!"</p> + +<p>"You will always find a home if you require one."</p> + +<p>"Yes; and sell myself! I'll tell you what it is, George Robinson; I +wish to enter no man's home unless I can earn my meat there by my +work. No man shall tell me that I am eating his bread for nothing. As +for love, I don't believe in it. It's all very well for them as have +nothing to do and nothing to think of,—for young ladies who get up +at ten in the morning, and ride about with young gentlemen, and spend +half their time before their looking-glasses. It's like those poetry +books you're so fond of. But it's not meant for them as must earn +their bread by their own sweat. You talk about love, but it's only +madness for the like of you."</p> + +<p>"I shall talk about it no more."</p> + +<p>"You can't afford it, George; nor yet can't I. What a man wants in a +wife is some one to see to his cooking and his clothes; and what a +woman wants is a man who can put a house over her head. Of course, if +she have something of her own, she'll have so much the better house. +As for me, I've got nothing now."</p> + +<p>"That would have made no difference with me." Robinson knew that he +was wrong to say this, but he could not help it. He knew that he +would be a madman if he again gave way to any feeling of tenderness +for this girl, who could be so hard in her manner, so harsh in her +speech, and whose temperament was so utterly unsuited to his own. But +as she was hard and harsh, so was he in all respects the reverse. As +she had told him over and over again, he was tender-hearted even to +softness.</p> + +<p>"No; it wouldn't," she replied. "And, therefore, with all your +cleverness, you are little better than a fool. You have been working +hard and living poor these two years back, and what better are you? +When that old man was weak enough to give you the last of his money, +you didn't keep a penny."</p> + +<p>"Not a penny," said Robinson, with some feeling of pride at his +heart.</p> + +<p>"And what the better are you for that? Look at them Joneses; they +have got money. When the crash comes, they won't have to walk out +into the street. They'll start somewhere in a little way, and will do +very well."</p> + +<p>"And would you have had me become a thief?"</p> + +<p>"A thief! You needn't have been a thief. You needn't have taken it +out of the drawers as some of them did. I couldn't do that myself. +I've been sore tempted, but I could never bring myself to that." Then +she got up, and went to her father, and Robinson returned again to +the figures that were before him.</p> + +<p>"What am I to do with him?" she again said, when she returned. "When +he is able to move, and the house is taken away from us, what am I to +do with him? He's been bad to me, but I won't leave him."</p> + +<p>"Neither will I leave him, Maryanne."</p> + +<p>"That's nonsense. You've got nothing, no more than he has; and he's +not your flesh and blood. Where would you have been now, if we'd been +married on that day."</p> + +<p>"I should have been nearer to him in blood, but not truer to him as a +partner."</p> + +<p>"It's lucky for you that your sort of partnership needn't last for +ever. You've got your hands and your brain, and at any rate you can +work. But who can say what must become of us? Looking at it all +through, George, I have been treated hard;—haven't I, now?"</p> + +<p>He could only say that of such hard treatment none of it rested on +his conscience. At such a moment as this he could not explain to her +that had she herself been more willing to trust in others, more prone +to believe in Providence, less hard and worldly, things would have +been better with her. Even now, could she have relaxed into +tenderness for half-an-hour, there was one at her elbow who would +have taken her at once, with all that burden of a worn-out pauper +parent, and have poured into her lap all the earnings of his life. +But Maryanne Brown could not relax into tenderness, nor would she +ever deign to pretend that she could do so.</p> + +<p>The first day on which Mr. Brown was able to come out into the +sitting-room was the very day on which Brown, Jones, and Robinson +were declared bankrupts. Craddock and Giles, the stationers of St. +Mary Axe, held bills of theirs, as to which they would not,—or +probably could not,—wait; and the City and West End Commercial and +Agricultural Joint-Stock Bank refused to make any further advances. +It was a sad day; but one, at least, of the partners felt relieved +when the blow had absolutely fallen, and the management of the +affairs of the shop was taken out of the hands of the firm.</p> + +<p>"And will we be took to prison?" asked Mr. Brown. They were almost +the first articulate words which he had been heard to utter since the +fit had fallen on him; and Robinson was quick to assure him that no +such misfortune would befall him.</p> + +<p>"They are not at all bitter against us," said Robinson. "They know we +have done our best."</p> + +<p>"And what will they do with us?" again asked Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"We shall have a sale, and clear out everything, and pay a +dividend;—and then the world will be open to us for further +efforts."</p> + +<p>"The world will never be open to me again," said Mr. Brown. "And if I +had only have kept the money when I had +<span class="nowrap">it—"</span></p> + +<p>"Mr. Brown," said Robinson, taking him by the hand, "you are ill now, +and seen through the sickly hue of weakness and infirmity, affairs +look bad and distressing; but ere long you will regain your +strength."</p> + +<p>"No, George, I shall never do that."</p> + +<p>On this day the business of the shop still went on, but the proceeds +of such sales as were made were carried to the credit of the +assignees. Mr. Jones was there throughout the day, doing nothing, and +hardly speaking to any one. He would walk slowly from the front of +the shop to the back, and then returning would stand in the doorway, +rubbing his hands one over the other. When any female of specially +smart appearance entered the shop, he would hand to her a chair, and +whisper a few words of oily courtesy; but to those behind the counter +he did not speak a word. In the afternoon Mrs. Jones made her +appearance, and when she had been there a few minutes, was about to +raise the counter door and go behind; but her husband took her almost +roughly by the arm, and muttering something to her, caused her to +leave the shop. "Ah, I knew what such dishonest doings must come to," +she said, as she went her way. "And, what's more, I know who's to +blame." And yet it was she and her husband who had brought this ruin +on the firm.</p> + +<p>"George," said Mr. Brown, that evening, "I have intended for the +best,—I have indeed."</p> + +<p>"Nobody blames you, sir."</p> + +<p>"You blame me about Maryanne."</p> + +<p>"No, by heaven; not now."</p> + +<p>"And she blames me about the money; but I've meant it for the +best;—I have indeed."</p> + +<p>All this occurred on a Saturday, and on that same evening Robinson +attended at his debating club, for the express purpose of explaining +to the members the state of his own firm. "It shall never be thrown +in my teeth," said he, "that I became a bankrupt and was ashamed to +own it." So he got up and made a speech, in which he stated that +Brown, Jones, and Robinson had failed, but that he could not lay it +to his own charge that he had been guilty of any omission or +commission of which he had reason to be ashamed as a British +merchant. This is mentioned here, in order that a fitting record may +be made of the very high compliment which was paid to him on the +occasion by old Pancabinet.</p> + +<p>"Most worthy Grand," said old Pan, and as he spoke he looked first at +the chairman and then down the long table of the room, "I am sure I +may truly say that we have all of us heard the statement made by the +enterprising and worthy Goose with sentiments of regret and pain; but +I am equally sure that we have none of us heard it with any idea that +either dishonour or disgrace can attach itself in the matter to the +name <span class="nowrap">of—"</span> +(Order, order, order.) "Worthy Geese are a little too +quick," continued the veteran debater with a smile—"to the name +of—one whom we all so highly value." (Hear, hear, hear.) And then +old Pancabinet moved that the enterprising and worthy Goose was +entitled to the full confidence of the chamber. Crowdy magnanimously +seconded the motion, and the resolution, when carried, was +communicated to Robinson by the worthy Grand. Having thanked them in +a few words, which were almost inaudible from his emotion, he left +the chamber, and immediately afterwards the meeting was adjourned.</p> + + +<p><a name="c22" id="c22"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER XXII.</h3> +<h4>WASTEFUL AND IMPETUOUS SALE.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>There is no position in life in which a man receives so much +distinguished attention as when he is a bankrupt,—a bankrupt, that +is, of celebrity. It seems as though he had then realized the +legitimate ends of trade, and was brought forth in order that those +men might do him honour with whom he had been good enough to have +dealings on a large scale. Robinson was at first cowed when he was +called upon to see men who were now becoming aware that they would +not receive more than 2<i>s.</i> 9<i>d.</i> in the pound out of all the +hundreds that were owed to them. But this feeling very soon wore off, +and he found himself laughing and talking with Giles the stationer, +and Burrows the printer, and Sloman the official assignee, as though +a bankruptcy were an excellent joke; and as though he, as one of the +bankrupts, had by far the best of it. These men were about to lose, +or rather had lost, large sums of money; but, nevertheless, they took +it all as a matter of course, and were perfectly good-humoured. No +word of reproach fell from their lips, and when they asked George +Robinson to give them the advantage of his recognized talents in +drawing up the bills for the sale, they put it to him quite as a +favour; and Sloman, the assignee, went so far as to suggest that he +should be remunerated for his work.</p> + +<p>"If I can only be of any service to you," said Robinson, modestly.</p> + +<p>"Of the greatest service," said Mr. Giles. "A tremendous sacrifice, +you know,—enormous liabilities,—unreserved sale,—regardless of +cost; and all that sort of thing."</p> + +<p>"Lord bless you!" said Mr. Burrows. "Do you think he doesn't +understand how to do all that better than you can tell him? You'll +draw out the headings of the posters; won't you, Mr. Robinson?"</p> + +<p>"And put the numbers and figures into the catalogue," suggested Mr. +Sloman. "The best way is to put 'em down at about cost price. We find +we can generally do 'em at that, if we can only get the people to +come sharp enough." And then, as the evening had fallen upon them, at +their labours, they adjourned to the "Four Swans" opposite, and +Robinson was treated to his supper at the expense of his victims.</p> + +<p>On the next day the house was closed. This was done in order that the +goods might be catalogued and prepared for the final sale. The shop +would then be again opened for a week, and, after that, there would +be an end of Brown, Jones, and Robinson. In spite of the good-humour +which was shown by those from whom ill-humour on such an occasion +might have been expected, there was a melancholy about this which was +inexpressible. It has been said that there is nothing so exciting in +trade as a grand final sacrificial sale. But it is like the last act +of a tragedy. It is very good while it lasts, but what is to come +after it? Robinson, as he descended into the darkened shop, and +walked about amidst the lumber that was being dragged forth from the +shelves and drawers, felt that he was like Marius on the ruins of +Carthage. Here had been the scene of his glory! And then he +remembered with what ecstasy he had walked down the shop, when the +crowd without were anxiously inquiring the fate of Johnson of +Manchester. That had been a great triumph! But to what had such +triumphs led him?</p> + +<p>The men and women had gone away to their breakfast, and he was +standing there alone, leaning against one of the counters; he heard a +slight noise behind him, and, turning round, saw Mr. Brown, who had +crept down from his own room without assistance. It was the first +time since his illness that he had left the floor on which he lived, +and it had been intended that he should never go into the shop again. +"Oh, Mr. Brown, is this prudent?" said he, going up to him that he +might give him the assistance of his arm.</p> + +<p>"I wished to see it all once more, George."</p> + +<p>"There it is, then. There isn't much to see."</p> + +<p>"But a deal to feel; isn't there, George?—a deal to feel! It did +look very pretty that day we opened it,—very pretty. The colours +seem to have got dirty now."</p> + +<p>"Bright colours will become dull and dirty, Mr. Brown. It's the way +of the world. The brighter they are in their brightness, the more +dull will they look when the tinsel and gloss are gone."</p> + +<p>"But we should have painted it again this spring, if we'd stopped +here."</p> + +<p>"There are things, Mr. Brown, which one cannot paint again."</p> + +<p>"Iron and wood you can, or anything of the like of that."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Mr. Brown; you may repaint iron and wood; but who can restore +the faded colours to broken hopes and a bankrupt ambition? You see +these arches here which with so light a span bear the burden of the +house above them. So was the span of my heart on that opening day. No +weight of labour then seemed to be too much for me. The arches remain +and will remain; but as for the human +<span class="nowrap">heart—"</span></p> + +<p>"Don't, George,—don't. It will kill me if I see you down in the +mouth."</p> + +<p>"These will be repainted," continued Robinson, "and other breasts +will glow beneath them with hopes as high as those we felt when you +and the others stood here to welcome the public. But what artist can +ever repaint our aspirations? The soiled columns of these windows +will be regilded, and all here will be bright and young again; but +for man, when he loses his glory, there is no regilding. Come, Mr. +Brown, we will go upstairs. They will be here soon, and this is no +place now for you." Then he took him by the hand and led him tenderly +to his apartment.</p> + +<p>There is something inexpressibly melancholy in the idea of bankruptcy +in trade;—unless, indeed, when it may have been produced by absolute +fraud, and in such a form as to allow of the bankrupts going forth +with their pockets full. But in an ordinary way, I know nothing more +sad than the fate of men who have embarked all in a trade venture and +have failed. It may be, and probably is, the fact, that in almost all +such cases the failure is the fault of the bankrupts; but the fault +is so generally hidden from their own eyes, that they cannot see the +justice of their punishment; and is often so occult in its causes +that the justice cannot be discerned by any without deep scrutiny. +They who have struggled and lost all feel only that they have worked +hard, and worked in vain; that they have thrown away their money and +their energy; and that there is an end, now and for ever, to those +sweet hopes of independence with which they embarked their small +boats upon the wide ocean of commerce. The fate of such men is very +sad. Of course we hear of bankrupts who come forth again with renewed +glories, and who shine all the brighter in consequence of their +temporary obscurity. These are the men who can manage to have +themselves repainted and regilded; but their number is not great. One +hears of such because they are in their way memorable; and one does +not hear of the poor wretches who sink down out of the world—back +behind counters, and to menial work in warehouses. Of ordinary +bankrupts one hears nothing. They are generally men who, having saved +a little with long patience, embark it all and lose it with rapid +impotence. They come forward once in their lives with their little +ventures, and then retire never more to be seen or noticed. Of all +the shops that are opened year after year in London, not above a half +remain in existence for a period of twelve months; and not a half +ever afford a livelihood to those who open them. Is not that a matter +which ought to fill one with melancholy? On the establishment of +every new shop there are the same high hopes,—those very hopes with +which Brown, Jones, and Robinson commenced their career. It is not +that all expect to shine forth upon the world as merchant princes, +but all do expect to live upon the fruit of their labour and to put +by that which will make their old age respectable. Alas! alas! Of +those who thus hope how much the larger proportion are doomed to +disappointment. The little lots of goods that are bought and brought +together with so much pride turn themselves into dust and rubbish. +The gloss and gilding wear away, as they wear away also from the +heart of the adventurer, and then the small aspirant sinks back into +the mass of nothings from whom he had thought to rise. When one +thinks of it, it is very sad; but the sadness is not confined to +commerce. It is the same at the bar, with the army, and in the +Church. We see only the few who rise above the waves, and know +nothing of the many who are drowned beneath the waters.</p> + +<p>Perhaps something of all this was in the heart of our friend Robinson +as he placed himself at his desk in his little room. Now, for this +next day or two he would still be somebody in the career of Magenta +House. His services were wanted; and therefore, though he was ruined, +men smiled on him. But how would it be with him when that sale should +be over, and when he would be called upon to leave the premises and +walk forth into the street? He was aware now, though he had never so +thought of himself before, that in the short days of his prosperity +he had taken much upon himself, as the member of a prosperous firm. +It had never then occurred to him that he had given himself airs +because he was Robinson, of the house in Bishopsgate Street; but now +he bethought himself that he had perhaps done so. How would men treat +him when he should no longer be the same Robinson? How had he +condescended to Poppins! how had he domineered at the "Goose and +Gridiron!" how had he patronized those who served him in the shop! +Men remember these things of themselves quite as quickly as others +remember them. Robinson thought of all this now, and almost wished +that those visits to Blackfriars Bridge had not been in vain.</p> + +<p>But nevertheless it behoved him to work. He had promised that he +would use his own peculiar skill for the benefit of the creditors, +and therefore, shaking himself as it were out of his despondency, he +buckled himself to his desk. "It is a grand opportunity," he said, as +he thought of the task before him, "but my work will be no longer for +myself and partners.<br /> </p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table style="margin: 0 auto" cellpadding="1"> + <tr> + <td align="left"> + <p class="noindent">The lofty rhyme I still must make,<br /> + <span class="ind2">Though other hands shall touch the money.</span><br /> + So do the bees for others' sake<br /> + <span class="ind2">Fill their waxen combs with honey."</span><br /> </p> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p class="noindent">Then, when he had +thus solaced himself with verse, he sat down to his +work.</p> + +<p>There was a mine of wealth before him from which to choose. A +tradesman in preparing the ordinary advertisements of his business is +obliged to remember the morrow. He must not risk everything on one +cast of the die. He must be in some degree modest and circumspect, +lest he shut himself out from all possibility of rising to a higher +note on any future opportunity. But in preparing for a final +sacrifice the artist may give the reins to his imagination, and +plunge at once into all the luxuries of the superlative. But to this +pleasure there was one drawback. The thing had been done so often +that superlatives had lost their value, and it had come to pass that +the strongest language sounded impotently in the palled ears of the +public. What idea can, in its own nature, be more harrowing to the +soul than that of a TREMENDOUS SACRIFICE? but what effect would arise +now-a-days from advertising a sale under such a heading? Every little +milliner about Tottenham Court Road has her "Tremendous Sacrifice!" +when she desires to rid her shelves of ends of ribbons and bits of +soiled flowers. No; some other language than this must be devised. A +phraseology not only startling but new must be invented in preparing +the final sale of the house of Brown, Jones, and Robinson.</p> + +<p>He threw himself back in his chair, and sat for awhile silent, with +his finger fixed upon his brow. The first words were everything, and +what should be the first words? At last, in a moment, they came to +him, and he wrote as +<span class="nowrap">follows:—</span><br /> </p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table style="margin: 0 auto" cellpadding="1"> + <tr> + <td align="center"> + <p class="noindent"><span class="large">RUIN! RUIN!! + RUIN!!!</span></p> + <p class="noindent"><span class="smallcaps">wasteful + and impetuous sale.</span></p> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + + +<blockquote> +<p>At Magenta House, 81, Bishopsgate Street, on March the 5th, and three +following days, the Stock in Trade of the bankrupts, Brown, Jones, +and Robinson, valued at 209,657<i>l.</i> 15<i>s.</i> 3<i>d.</i>, will be thrown +broadcast before the public at the frightful reduction of 75 per +Cent. on the cost price.</p> + +<p>To acquire the impetus and force necessary for the realization of so +vast a property, all goods are quoted for TRUE, HONEST, BONA-FIDE +SALE at One-Quarter the Cost Price.</p> + +<p>This is a Solemn Fact, and one which well merits the earnest +attention of every mother of a family in England. The goods are of +the first class. And as no attempt in trade has ever hitherto been +made of equal magnitude to that of the bankrupts', it may with +absolute truth be said that no such opportunity as this has ever yet +been afforded to the public of supplying themselves with the richest +articles of luxury at prices which are all but nominal. How will any +lady hereafter forgive herself, who shall fail to profit by such an +opportunity as this?<br /> </p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>Such was the heading of his bills, and he read and re-read the words, +not without a glow of pleasure. One can be in love with ruin so long +as the excitement lasts. "A Solemn Fact!" he repeated to himself; "or +shall I say a Glorious Fact? Glorious would do well for the public +view of the matter; but as it touches the firm, Solemn, perhaps, is +more appropriate. Mother of a Family! Shall I say, also, of every +Father? I should like to include all; but then the fathers never +come, and it would sound loaded." Again he looked at the bill, again +read it, and then proceeded to describe with great accuracy, on a +fly-leaf, the dimensions of the paper to be used, the size of the +different types, and the adaptation of various colours. "That will +do," said he; "I think that will do."</p> + +<p>But this which he had now done, though, perhaps, the most important +part of his task, was by no means the most laborious. He had before +him various catalogues of the goods, and it remained for him to affix +the prices, to describe the qualities, and to put down the amount of +each on hand. This was no light task, and he worked hard at it into +the middle of the night. But long before that time came he had thrust +away from him the inefficient lists with which he had been supplied, +and trusted himself wholly to his imagination. So may be seen the +inspired schoolmaster who has beneath his hands the wretched verses +of a dull pupil. For awhile he attempts to reduce to reason and +prosody the futile efforts of the scholar, but anon he lays aside in +disgust the distasteful task, and turning his eyes upwards to the +Muse who has ever been faithful, he dashes off a few genial lines of +warm poetry. The happy juvenile, with wondering pen, copies the work, +and the parent's heart rejoices over the prize which his child has +won. So was it now with Robinson. What could he do with a poor gross +of hose, numbered 7 to 10? or what with a score or two of middling +kids? There were five dozen and nine left of the Katakairions. Was he +to put down such numbers as those in his sacrificial catalogue? For +awhile he kept these entries before him as a guide—as a guide which +in some sort he might follow at a wide distance. But he found that it +was impossible for him to be so guided, even at any distance, and at +last he thrust the poor figures from him altogether and trampled them +under his feet. "Tablecloths, seven dozen and a half, different +sizes." That was the last item he read, and as he pushed it away, the +following were the words which his fertile pen +<span class="nowrap">produced:—</span><br /> </p> + + +<blockquote> +<p>The renowned Flemish Treble Table Damasks, of argentine brightness +and snow-like purity, with designs of absolute grandeur and artistic +perfection of outline. To dine eight persons, worth 1<i>l,</i> 8<i>s.</i> +6<i>d.</i>, for 7<i>s.</i> 3<i>d.</i>; to dine twelve, worth 1<i>l.</i> +18<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i>, for +10<i>s.</i> 11½<i>d.</i>; to dine sixteen, worth +3<i>l.</i> 19<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i>, for 19<i>s.</i> +9¼<i>d.</i>; and so on, at the same rate, to any size which the epicurean +habits of this convivial age can possibly require.<br /> </p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>Space will not permit us here to give the bill entire, but after this +fashion was it framed. And then the final note was as +<span class="nowrap">follows:—</span><br /> </p> + + +<blockquote> +<p>N.B.—Many tons weight of First-Class Table Damasks and Sheetings, +soiled but not otherwise impaired; also of Ribbons, Gloves, Hose, +Shirts, Crinolines, Paletots, Mantles, Shawls, Prints, Towels, +Blankets, Quilts, and Flouncings, will be sold on the first two days +at BUYERS' OWN PRICES.<br /> </p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>"There," said he, as he closed down his ink-bottle at three o'clock +in the morning, "that, I suppose, is my last day's work in the house +of Brown, Jones, and Robinson. I have worked, not for myself, but +others, and I have worked honestly." Then he went home, and slept as +though he had no trouble on his mind.</p> + +<p>On the following morning he again was there, and Messrs. Giles, +Burrows, and Sloman attended with him. Mr. Brown, also, and Mr. Jones +were present. On this occasion the meeting was held in Mr. Brown's +sitting-room, and they were all assembled in order that Robinson +might read over the sale list as he had prepared it. Poor Mr. Brown +sat in a corner of his old sofa, very silent. Now and again, as some +long number or specially magniloquent phrase would strike his ear, he +expressed his surprise by a sort of gasp; but throughout the whole +morning he did not speak a word as to the business on hand. Jones for +the first few minutes attempted to criticize; but the authority of +Mr. Sloman and the burly aspect of Mr. Giles the paper-dealer, were +soon too much for his courage, and he also collapsed into silence. +But the three gentlemen who were most concerned did not show all that +silent acquiescence which George Robinson's painful exertions on +their behalf so richly deserved.</p> + +<p>"Impetuous!" said Mr. Sloman. "What does 'impetuous' mean? I never +heard tell before of an impetuous sacrifice. Tremendous is the proper +word, Mr. Robinson."</p> + +<p>"Tremendous is not my word," answered Robinson; "and as to the +meaning of <span class="nowrap">impetuous—"</span></p> + +<p>"It sounds well, I think," said Mr. Burrows; and then they went on.</p> + +<p>"Broadcast—broadcast!" said Mr. Giles. "That means sowing, don't +it?"</p> + +<p>"Exactly," said Robinson. "Have not I sown, and are not you to reap? +If you will allow me I will go on." He did go on, and by degrees got +through the whole heading; but there was hardly a word which was not +contested. It is all very well for a man to write, when he himself is +the sole judge of what shall be written; but it is a terrible thing +to have to draw up any document for the approval of others. One's +choicest words are torn away, one's figures of speech are maltreated, +one's stops are misunderstood, and one's very syntax is put to +confusion; and then, at last, whole paragraphs are cashiered as +unnecessary. First comes the torture and then the execution. "Come, +Wilkins, you have the pen of a ready writer; prepare for us this +document." In such words is the victim addressed by his colleagues. +Unhappy Wilkins! he little dreams of the misery before him, as he +proudly applies himself to his work.</p> + +<p>But it is beautiful to hear and see, when two scribes have been +appointed, how at first they praise each other's words, as did +Trissotin and Vadius; how gradually each objects to this comma or to +that epithet; how from moment to moment their courage will +arise,—till at last every word that the other has written is foul +nonsense and flat blasphemy;—till Vadius at last will defy his +friend in prose and verse, in Greek and Latin.</p> + +<p>Robinson on this occasion had no rival, but not the less were his +torments very great. "Argentine brightness!" said Mr. Giles. "What's +'argentine?' I don't like 'argentine.' You'd better put that out, Mr. +Robinson."</p> + +<p>"It's the most effective word in the whole notice," said Robinson, +and then he passed on.</p> + +<p>"Tons weight of towelling!" said Mr. Sloman. "That's coming it a +little too strong, Mr. Robinson."</p> + +<p>This was the end of the catalogue. "Gentlemen," said Robinson, rising +from his chair, "what little I have been able to do for you in this +matter I have done willingly. There is the notice of your sale, drawn +out in such language as seems suitable to me. If it answers your +purpose, I pray that you will use it. If you can frame one that will +do so better, I beg that no regard for my feelings may stand in your +way. My only request to you is this,—that if my words be used, they +may not be changed or garbled." Then, bowing to them all, he left the +room.</p> + +<p>They knew the genius of the man, and the notice afterwards appeared +exactly in the form in which Robinson had framed it.</p> + + +<p><a name="c23" id="c23"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER XXIII.</h3> +<h4>FAREWELL.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>For the four appointed days the sale was continued, and it was +wondrous to see with what animation the things went off. It seemed as +though ladies were desirous of having a souvenir from Magenta House, +and that goods could be sold at a higher price under the name of a +sacrifice than they would fetch in the ordinary way of trade. "If +only we could have done as well," Robinson said to his partner Jones, +wishing that, if possible, there might be good humour between them in +these last days.</p> + +<p>"We did do quite as well, and better," said Jones, "only the money +was thrown away in them horrid advertisements." After that, George +Robinson made no further effort to maintain friendly relations with +Mr. Jones.</p> + +<p>"George," said Mr. Brown, "I hope they'll allow me something. They +ought; oughtn't they? There wouldn't have been nothing, only for my +four thousand pounds." Robinson did not take the trouble to explain +to him that had he kept his four thousand pounds out of the way, the +creditors would not now have any lost money to lament. Robinson was +careful to raise no hopes by his answer; but, nevertheless, he +resolved that when the sale was over, he would do his best.</p> + +<p>On the fifth day, when the shop had been well nigh cleared of all the +goods, the premises themselves were sold. Brown, Jones, and Robinson +had taken them on a term of years, and the lease with all the +improvements was put up to auction. When we say that the price which +the property fetched exceeded the whole sum spent for external and +internal decorations, including the Magenta paint and the +plate-glass, we feel that the highest possible testimony is given to +the taste and talent displayed by the firm.</p> + +<p>It was immediately after this that application was made to the +creditors on behalf of Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"He brought four thousand pounds into the business," said Robinson, +"and now he hasn't a penny of his own."</p> + +<p>"And we have none of us got a penny," whined out Mr. Jones, who was +standing by.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Jones and I are young, and can earn our bread," said Robinson; +"but that old man must go into the workhouse, if you do not feel it +possible to do something for him."</p> + +<p>"And so must my poor babbies," said Jones. "As to work, I ain't fit +for it."</p> + +<p>But he was soon interrupted, and made to understand that he might +think himself lucky if he were not made to disgorge that which he +already possessed. As to Mr. Brown, the creditors with much +generosity agreed that an annuity of 20<i>s.</i> a week should be +purchased for him out of the proceeds of the sale. "I ain't long for +this world, George," he said, when he was told; "and they ought to +get it cheap. Put 'em up to that, George; do now." Twenty shillings a +week was not much for all his wants; but, nevertheless, he might be +more comfortable with that than he had been for many a year, if only +his daughter would be kind to him. Alas, alas! was it within the +nature of things that his daughters should be kind?</p> + +<p>It was on this occasion, when the charitable intention of the +creditors was communicated to Mr. Brown by Robinson, that that +conversation took place to which allusion has been made in the +opening chapter of these memoirs. Of course, it was necessary that +each member of the firm should provide in some way for his future +necessities. Mr. Jones had signified his intention of opening a small +hairdresser's shop in Gray's Inn Lane. "I was brought up to it once," +he said, "and it don't require much ready money." Both Mr. Brown and +Robinson knew that he was in possession of money, but it was not now +worth their while to say more about this. The fox had made good his +prey, and who could say where it was hidden?</p> + +<p>"And what will you do, George?" asked Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>Then it was that Robinson communicated to them the fact that +application had been made to him by the Editor of a first class +Magazine for a written account of the doings of the firm. "I think it +may be of advantage to commerce in general," the Editor had said with +his customary dignity of expression and propriety of demeanour. "I +quite agree with you," Robinson had replied, "if only the commercial +world of Great Britain can be induced to read the lesson." The Editor +seemed to think that the commercial world of Great Britain did read +the <span class="smallcaps">Cornhill Magazine</span>, +and an arrangement was quickly made between +them. Those who have perused the chapter in question will remember +how Robinson yielded when the senior partner pleaded that as they had +been partners so long, they should still be partners to the end; and +how he had yielded again when it was suggested to him that he should +receive some assistance in the literary portion of the work. That +assistance has been given, and George Robinson hopes that it may have +been of advantage.</p> + +<p>"I suppose we shall see each other sometimes, George," Maryanne said +to him, when she came down to his little room to bid him farewell.</p> + +<p>"I hope we shall, Maryanne."</p> + +<p>"I don't suppose we shall ever dance together again at the Hall of +Harmony."</p> + +<p>"No, Maryanne, never. That phase of life is for me over. Neither with +you nor with any other fair girl shall I again wanton away the flying +hours. Life is too precious for that; and the work which falls upon a +man's shoulders is too exacting. The Hall of Harmony is for children, +Maryanne;—for grown children, perhaps, but still for children."</p> + +<p>"You used to like it, George."</p> + +<p>"I did; and could again. So could I again stop with longing mouth at +the window of that pastrycook, whose tarts in early life attracted +all my desires. I could again be a boy in everything, did I not +recognize the stern necessity which calls me to be a man. I could +dance with you still, whirling swiftly round the room to the sweet +sound of the music, stretching the hours of delight out to the very +dawn, were it not for Adam's doom. In the sweat of my brow must I eat +my bread. There is a time for all things, Maryanne; but with me the +time for such pastimes as those is gone."</p> + +<p>"You'll keep company with some other young woman before long, George, +and then you'll be less gloomy."</p> + +<p>"Never! That phase of life is also over. Why should I? To what +purpose?"</p> + +<p>"To be married, of course."</p> + +<p>"Yes; and become a woman's slave, like poor Poppins; or else have my +heart torn again with racking jealousy, as it was with you. No, +Maryanne! Let those plodding creatures link themselves with women +whose bodies require comforting but whose minds never soar. The world +must be populated, and therefore let the Briskets marry."</p> + +<p>"I suppose you've heard of him, George?"</p> + +<p>"Not a word."</p> + +<p>"La, now! I declare you've no curiosity to inquire about any one. If +I was dead and buried to-morrow, I believe you'd never ask a word +about me."</p> + +<p>"I would go to your grave, Maryanne, and sit there in silence."</p> + +<p>"Would you, now? I hope you won't, all the same. But about Brisket. +You remember when that row was, and you were so nigh choking him?"</p> + +<p>"Do I remember? Ay, Maryanne; when shall I forget it? It was the last +hour of my madness."</p> + +<p>"I never admired you so much as I did then, George. But never mind. +That's all done and over now;—isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"All done and over," said Robinson, mournfully repeating her words.</p> + +<p>"Of course it is. But about Brisket. Immediately after that, the very +next day, he went out to Gogham,—where he was always going, you +know, with that cart of his, to buy sheep. Sheep, indeed!"</p> + +<p>"And wasn't it for sheep?"</p> + +<p>"No, George. Brisket was the sheep, and there was there a little +she-wolf that has got him at last into her claws. Brisket is married, +George."</p> + +<p>"What! another Poppins! Ha! ha! ha! We shall not want for children."</p> + +<p>"He has seen his way at last. She was a drover's daughter; and now +he's married her and brought her home."</p> + +<p>"A drover's daughter?"</p> + +<p>"Well, he says a grazier's; but it's all the same. He never would +have done for me, George; never. And I'll tell you more; I don't +think I ever saw the man as would. I should have taken either of +you,—I was so knocked about among 'em. But I should have made you +miserable, whichever it was. It's a consolation to me when I think of +that."</p> + +<p>And it was a consolation also to him. He had loved her,—had loved +her very dearly. He had been almost mad for love of her. But yet he +had always known, that had he won her she would have made him +miserable. There was consolation in that when he thought of his loss. +Then, at last, he wished her good-by. "And now farewell, Maryanne. Be +gentle with that old man."</p> + +<p>"George," she said, "as long as he wants me, I'll stick to him. He's +never been a good father to me; but if he wants me, I'll stick to +him. As to being gentle, it's not in me. I wasn't brought up gentle, +and you can't teach an old dog new tricks." Those were the last words +she spoke to him, and they had, at any rate, the merit of truth.</p> + +<p>And then, before he walked out for the last time from the portals of +Magenta House, he bade adieu to his old partner Mr. Brown. "God bless +you, George!" said the old man; "God bless you!"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Brown," said he, "I cannot part from you without acknowledging +that the loss of all your money sits very heavy on my heart."</p> + +<p>"Never think of it, George."</p> + +<p>"But I shall think of it. You were an old man, Mr. Brown, and the +money was enough for you; or, if you did go into trade again, the old +way would have suited you best."</p> + +<p>"Well, George, now you mention it, I think it would."</p> + +<p>"It was the same mistake, Mr. Brown, that we have so often heard +of,—putting old wine into a new bottle. The bottle is broken and the +wine is spilt. For myself, I've learned a lesson, and I am a wiser +man; but I'm sorry for you, Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"I shall never say a word to blame you, George."</p> + +<p>"As to my principles,—that system of commerce which I have +advocated,—as to that, I am still without a doubt. I am certain of +the correctness of my views. Look at Barlywig and his colossal +fortune, and 40,000<i>l.</i> a year spent in advertising."</p> + +<p>"But then you should have your 40,000<i>l.</i> a year."</p> + +<p>"By no means! But the subject is a long one, Mr. Brown, and cannot +now be discussed with advantage. This, however, I do feel,—that I +should not have embarked your little all in such an enterprise. It +was enough for you; but to me, with my views, it was nothing,—less +than nothing. I will begin again with unimpeded wings, and you shall +hear of my success. But for your sake, Mr. Brown, I regret what is +past." Then he pressed the old man's hand and went forth from Magenta +House. From that day to this present one he has never again entered +the door.</p> + +<p>"And so Brisket is married. Brisket is right. Brisket is a happy +man," he said to himself, as he walked slowly down the passage by St. +Botolph's Church. "Brisket is certainly right; I will go and see +Brisket." So he did; and continuing his way along the back of the +Bank and the narrow street which used to be called Lad Lane,—I wish +they would not alter the names of the streets; was it not enough that +the "Swan with Two Necks" should be pulled down, foreshadowing, +perhaps, in its ruin the fate of another bird with two necks, from +which this one took its emblematic character?—and so making his way +out into Aldersgate Street. He had never before visited the Lares of +Brisket, for Brisket had been his enemy. But Brisket was his enemy no +longer, and he walked into the shop with a light foot and a pleasant +smile. There, standing at some little distance behind the block, +looking with large, wondering eyes at the carcases of the sheep which +hung around her, stood a wee little woman, very pretty, with red +cheeks, and red lips, and short, thick, clustering curls. This was +the daughter of the grazier from Gogham. "The shopman will be back in +a minute," said she. "I ought to be able to do it myself, but I'm +rather astray about the things yet awhile." Then George Robinson told +her who he was.</p> + +<p>She knew his name well, and gave him her little plump hand in token +of greeting. "Laws a mercy! are you George Robinson? I've heard such +a deal about you. He's inside, just tidying hisself a bit for dinner. +Who do you think there is here, Bill?" and she opened the door +leading to the back premises. "Here's George Robinson, that you're +always so full of." Then he followed her out into a little yard, +where he found Brisket in the neighbourhood of a pump, smelling +strongly of yellow soap, with his sleeves tucked up, and hard at work +with a rough towel.</p> + +<p>"Robinson, my boy," cried he, "I'm glad to see you; and so is Mrs. B. +Ain't you, Em'ly?" Whereupon Em'ly said that she was delighted to see +Mr. Robinson. "And you're just in time for as tidy a bit of roast +veal as you won't see again in a hurry,—fed down at Gogham by +Em'ly's mother. I killed it myself, with my own hands. Didn't I, +Em'ly?"</p> + +<p>Robinson stopped and partook of the viands which were so strongly +recommended to him; and then, after dinner, he and Brisket and the +bride became very intimate and confidential over a glass of hot +brandy-and-water.</p> + +<p>"I don't do this kind of thing, only when I've got a friend," said +Brisket, tapping the tumbler with his spoon. "But I really am glad to +see you. I've took a fancy to you now, ever since you went so nigh +throttling me. By Jove! though, I began to think it was all up with +me,—only for Sarah Jane."</p> + +<p>"But he didn't!" said Emily, looking first at her great husband and +then at Robinson's slender proportions.</p> + +<p>"Didn't he though? But he just did. And what do you think, Em'ly? He +wanted me once to sit with him on a barrel of gunpowder."</p> + +<p>"A barrel of gunpowder!"</p> + +<p>"And smoke our pipes there,—quite comfortable. And then he wanted me +to go and fling ourselves into the river. That was uncommon civil, +wasn't it? And then he well nigh choked me."</p> + +<p>"It was all about that young woman," said Emily, with a toss of her +head. "And from all I can hear tell, she wasn't worth fighting for. +As for you, Bill, I wonder at you; so I do."</p> + +<p>"I thought I saw my way," said Brisket.</p> + +<p>"It's well for you that you've got somebody near you that will see +better now. And as for you, Mr. Robinson; I hope you won't be long in +the dumps, neither." Whereupon he explained to her that he was by no +means in the dumps. He had failed in trade, no doubt, but he was now +engaged upon a literary work, as to which considerable expectation +had been raised, and he fully hoped to provide for his humble wants +in this way till he should be able to settle himself again to some +new commercial enterprise.</p> + +<p>"It isn't that as she means," said Brisket. "She means about taking a +wife. That's all the women ever thinks of."</p> + +<p>"What I was saying is, that as you and Bill were both after her, and +as you are both broke with her, and seeing that Bill's provided +himself <span class="nowrap">like—"</span></p> + +<p>"And a charming provision he has made," said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"I did see my way," said Brisket, with much self-content.</p> + +<p>"So you ought to look elsewhere as well as he," continued Emily. +"According to all accounts, you've neither of you lost so very much +in not getting Maryanne Brown."</p> + +<p>"Maryanne Brown is a handsome young woman," said Robinson.</p> + +<p>"Why, she's as red as red," said Mrs. Brisket; "quite carroty, they +tell me. And as for handsome, Mr. Robinson;—handsome is as handsome +does; that's what I say. If I had two sweethearts going about talking +of gunpowder, and throwing themselves into rivers along of me, +I'd—I'd—I'd never forgive myself. So, Mr. Robinson, I hope you'll +suit yourself soon. Bill, don't you take any more of that brandy. +Don't now, when I tell you not."</p> + +<p>Then Robinson rose and took his leave, promising to make future +visits to Aldersgate Street. And as Brisket squeezed his hand at +parting, all the circumstances of that marriage were explained in a +very few words. "She had three hundred, down, you know;—really down. +So I said done and done, when I found the money wasn't there with +Maryanne. And I think that I've seen my way."</p> + +<p>Robinson congratulated him, and assured him that he thought he had +seen it very clearly.</p> + + +<p><a name="c24" id="c24"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER XXIV.</h3> +<h4>GEORGE ROBINSON'S DREAM.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>George Robinson, though his present wants were provided for by his +pen, was by no means disposed to sink into a literary hack. It was by +commerce that he desired to shine. It was to trade,—trade, in the +highest sense of the word,—that his ambition led him. Down at the +Crystal Palace he had stood by the hour together before the statue of +the great Cheetham,—ominous name!—of him who three centuries ago +had made money by dealing in Manchester goods. Why should not he also +have his statue? But then how was he to begin? He had begun, and +failed. With hopeful words he had declared to Mr. Brown that not on +that account was he daunted; but still there was before him the +burden of another commencement. Many of us know what it is to have +high hopes, and yet to feel from time to time a terrible despondency +when the labours come by which those hopes should be realized. +Robinson had complained that he was impeded in his flight by Brown +and Jones. Those impediments had dropped from him now; and yet he +knew not how to proceed upon his course.</p> + +<p>He walked forth one evening, after his daily task, pondering these +things as he went. He made his solitary way along the Kingsland Road, +through Tottenham, and on to Edmonton, thinking deeply of his future +career. What had John Gilpin done that had made him a citizen of +renown? Had he advertised? Or had he contented himself simply with +standing behind his counter till customers should come to him? In +John Gilpin's time the science of advertisement was not born;—or, if +born, was in its earliest infancy. And yet he had achieved renown. +And Cheetham;—but probably Cheetham had commenced with a capital.</p> + +<p>Thus he walked on till he found himself among the fields,—those +first fields which greet the eyes of a Londoner, in which wheat is +not grown, but cabbages and carrots for the London market; and here +seating himself upon a gate, he gave his mind up to a close study of +the subject. First he took from his pocket a short list which he +always carried, and once more read over the names and figures which +it bore.<br /> </p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table style="margin: 0 auto" cellpadding="1"> + <tr> + <td align="center"> + <p class="noindent">Barlywig, £40,000 per annum.<br /> </p> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + + +<p>How did Barlywig begin such an outlay as that? He knew that Barlywig +had, as a boy, walked up to town with twopence in his pocket, and in +his early days, had swept out the shop of a shoemaker. The giants of +trade all have done that. Then he went on with the +<span class="nowrap">list:—</span><br /> </p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table style="margin: 0 auto" cellpadding="1"> + <tr> + <td align="left">Holloway</td><td> . . . </td><td align="left">£30,000</td><td>per annum.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="left">Moses</td><td> . . . </td><td align="left"> 10,000</td><td>"</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="left">Macassar Oil</td><td> . . . </td><td align="left"> 10,000</td><td>"</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td align="left">Dr. De Jongh</td><td> . . . </td><td align="left"> 10,000</td><td>"</td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + + +<p> <br />What a glorious +fraternity! There were many others that followed with +figures almost equally stupendous. Revalenta Arabica! Bedsteads! +Paletots! Food for Cattle! But then how did these great men begin? He +himself had begun with some money in his hand, and had failed. As to +them, he believed that they had all begun with twopence. As for +genius and special talent, it was admitted on all sides that he +possessed it. Of that he could feel no doubt, as other men were +willing to employ him.</p> + +<p>"Shall I never enjoy the fruits of my own labour?" said he to +himself. "Must I still be as the bee, whose honey is robbed from him +as soon as made?<br /> </p> + + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p class="noindent">The lofty rhyme I still must build,<br /> +Though other hands shall touch the money.<br /> </p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + + +<p class="noindent">Will this be my fate for ever?—<br /> </p> + + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p class="noindent">The patient oxen till the furrows,<br /> +But never eat the generous corn.<br /> </p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + + +<p class="noindent">Shall the corn itself never be my own?"</p> + +<p>And as he sat there the words of Poppins came upon his memory. "You +advertising chaps never do anything. All that printing never makes +the world any richer." At the moment he had laughed down Poppins with +absolute scorn; but now, at this solitary moment he began to reflect +whether there might be any wisdom in his young friend's words. "The +question has been argued," he continued in his soliloquy, "by the +greatest philosopher of the age. A man goes into hats, and in order +to force a sale, he builds a large cart in the shape of a hat, paints +it blue, and has it drawn through the streets. He still finds that +his sale is not rapid; and with a view of increasing it, what shall +he do? Shall he make his felt hats better, or shall he make his +wooden hat bigger? Poppins and the philosopher say that the former +plan will make the world the richer, but they do not say that it will +sell the greater number of hats. Am I to look after the world? Am I +not to look to myself? Is not the world a collection of individuals, +all of whom are doing so? Has anything been done for the world by the +Quixotic aspirations of general philanthropy, at all equal to that +which individual enterprise has achieved? Poppins and the philosopher +would spend their energies on a good hat. But why? Not that they love +the head that is to wear it. The sale would still be their object. +They would sell hats, not that the heads of men may be well covered, +but that they themselves might live and become rich. To force a sale +must be the first duty of a man in trade, and a man's first duty +should be all in all to him.</p> + +<p>"If the hats sold from the different marts be not good enough, with +whom does the fault rest? Is it not with the customers who purchase +them? Am I to protect the man who demands from me a cheap hat? Am I +to say, 'Sir, here is a cheap hat. It is made of brown paper, and the +gum will run from it in the first shower. It will come to pieces when +worn and disgrace you among your female acquaintances by becoming +dinged and bulged?' Should I do him good? He would buy his cheap hat +elsewhere, and tell pleasant stories of the madman he had met. The +world of purchasers will have cheap articles, and the world of +commerce must supply them. The world of purchasers will have their +ears tickled, and the world of commerce must tickle them. Of what use +is all this about adulteration? If Mrs. Jones will buy her sausages +at a lower price per pound than pork fetches in the market, has she a +right to complain when some curious doctor makes her understand that +her viands have not been supplied exclusively from the pig? She +insists on milk at three halfpence a quart; but the cow will not +produce it. The cow cannot produce it at that price, unless she be +aided by the pump; and therefore the pump aids her. If there be +dishonesty in this, it is with the purchaser, not with the +vendor,—with the public, not with the tradesman."</p> + +<p>But still as he sat upon the gate, thus arguing with himself, a dream +came over him, a mist of thought as it were, whispering to him +strangely that even yet he might be wrong. He endeavoured to throw it +off, shaking himself as it were, and striving to fix his mind firmly +upon his old principles. But it was of no avail. He knew he was +awake; but yet he dreamed; and his dream was to him as a terrible +nightmare.</p> + +<p>What if he were wrong! What if those two philosophers had on their +side some truth! He would fain be honest if he knew the way. What if +those names upon his list were the names of false gods, whose worship +would lead him to a hell of swindlers instead of the bright heaven of +commercial nobility! "Barlywig is in Parliament," he said to himself, +over and over again, in loud tones, striving to answer the spirit of +his dream. "In Parliament! He sits upon committees; men jostle to +speak to him; and he talks loud among the big ones of the earth. He +spends forty thousand a year in his advertisements, and grows +incredibly rich by the expenditure. Men and women flock in crowds to +his shop. He lives at Albert Gate in a house big enough for a royal +duke, and is the lord of ten thousand acres in Yorkshire. Barlywig +cannot have been wrong, let that philosopher philosophize as he +will!" But still the dream was there, crushing him like a nightmare.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you produce something, so as to make the world richer?" +Poppins had said. He knew well what Poppins had meant by making the +world richer. If a man invent a Katakairion shirt, he does make the +world richer; if it be a good one, he makes it much richer. But the +man who simply says that he has done so adds nothing to the world's +wealth. His answer had been that it was his work to sell the shirts, +and that of the purchaser to buy them. Let each look to his own work. +If he could be successful in his selling, then he would have a right +to be proud of his success. The world would be best served by close +attention on the part of each to his own business. Such had been the +arguments with which he had silenced his friend and contented +himself, while the excitement of the shop in Bishopsgate Street was +continued; but now, as he sat there upon the gate, this dream came +upon him, and he began to doubt. Could it be that a man had a double +duty, each separate from the other;—a duty domestic and private, +requiring his devotion and loyalty to his wife, his children, his +partners, and himself; and another duty, widely extended in all its +bearings and due to the world in which he lived? Could Poppins have +seen this, while he was blind? Was a man bound to produce true shirts +for the world's benefit even though he should make no money by so +doing;—either true shirts or none at all?</p> + +<p>The evening light fell upon him as he still sat there on the gate, +and he became very melancholy. "If I have been wrong," he said to +himself, "I must give up the fight. I cannot begin again now and +learn new precepts. After all that I have done with that old man's +money, I cannot now own that I have been wrong, and commence again on +a theory taught to me by Poppins. If this be so, then farewell to +Commerce!" And as he said so, he dropped from his seat, and, leaning +over the rail, hid his face within his hands.</p> + +<p>As he stood there, suddenly a sound struck his ears, and he knew that +the bells of Edmonton were ringing. The church was distant, but +nevertheless the tones came sharp upon him with their clear music. +They rang on quickly, loudly, and with articulate voice. Surely there +were words within those sounds. What was it they were saying to him? +He listened for a few seconds, for a minute or two, for five minutes; +and then his ear and senses had recognized the language—"Turn again, +Robinson, Member of Parliament." He heard it so distinctly that his +ear would not for a moment abandon the promise. The words could not +be mistaken. "Turn again, Robinson, Member of Parliament."</p> + +<p>Then he did turn, and walked back to London with a trusting heart.</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="narrow" /> +<p> </p> + +<p>London: Printed by <span class="smallcaps">Smith, Elder and +Co.</span>, Old Bailey, E.C.</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="narrow" /> +<p> </p> + +<h4>Transcriber's note:</h4> + +<div class="small"> +<p class="noindent">Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.</p> + +<p class="noindent">Chapter VIII, paragraph 56. +Previously Fame was attributed +masculine gender. The reader might note the sentence in +this paragraph: On that morrow he was more enterprising +than ever, and it was then that he originated the idea of +the four men in armour, and of Fame with HER classical +horn and gilded car.</p> + +<p class="noindent">Specific changes in wording of the text +are listed below.</p> + +<p class="noindentind">Chapter XII, paragraph 25. The word +"partners" was changed +to "partner" in the sentence: And might it not be well for +her to forget that other Samson, and once more to trust +herself to her father's PARTNER?</p> + +<p class="noindentind">Chapter XVI, paragraph 44. +The order of the words "was it" +was inverted in the sentence: Why WAS IT, that at this +eventful period of Robinson's existence Mrs. Poppins +should have turned against him?</p> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STRUGGLES OF BROWN, JONES, AND ROBINSON***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 27533-h.txt or 27533-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/7/5/3/27533">http://www.gutenberg.org/2/7/5/3/27533</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Struggles of Brown, Jones, and Robinson + By One of the Firm + + +Author: Anthony Trollope + + + +Release Date: December 14, 2008 [eBook #27533] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STRUGGLES OF BROWN, JONES, AND +ROBINSON*** + + +E-text prepared by Joseph E. Loewenstein, M.D., and Delphine Lettau + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 27533-h.htm or 27533-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/7/5/3/27533/27533-h/27533-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/7/5/3/27533/27533-h.zip) + + + + + +THE STRUGGLES OF BROWN, JONES, AND ROBINSON: + +by + +ONE OF THE FIRM + +Edited by + +ANTHONY TROLLOPE + +Author of "Framley Parsonage," "The Last Chronicle of Barset," +&c. &c. + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Jones is vanquished by Mrs. Morony (Chapter XIV). +(frontispiece)] + +[Illustration: Title page.] + + + +Reprinted from the "Cornhill Magazine." + +With Four Illustrations. + +London: +Smith, Elder & Co., 15, Waterloo Place. +1870. + + + + +CONTENTS + + I. PREFACE. BY ONE OF THE FIRM. + + II. THE EARLY HISTORY OF OUR MR. BROWN, + WITH SOME FEW WORDS OF MR. JONES. + + III. THE EARLY HISTORY OF MR. ROBINSON. + + IV. NINE TIMES NINE IS EIGHTY-ONE. SHOWING HOW BROWN, JONES, + AND ROBINSON SELECTED THEIR HOUSE OF BUSINESS. + + V. THE DIVISION OF LABOUR. + + VI. IT IS OUR OPENING DAY. + + VII. MISS BROWN PLEADS HER OWN CASE, AND MR. ROBINSON WALKS + ON BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE. + + VIII. MR. BRISKET THINKS HE SEES HIS WAY, AND MR. ROBINSON + AGAIN WALKS ON BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE. + + IX. SHOWING HOW MR. ROBINSON WAS EMPLOYED ON THE OPENING DAY. + + X. SHOWING HOW THE FIRM INVENTED A NEW SHIRT. + + XI. JOHNSON OF MANCHESTER. + + XII. SAMSON AND DELILAH. + + XIII. THE WISDOM OF POPPINS. + + XIV. MISTRESS MORONY. + + XV. MISS BROWN NAMES THE DAY. + + XVI. SHOWING HOW ROBINSON WALKED UPON ROSES. + + XVII. A TEA-PARTY IN BISHOPSGATE STREET. + + XVIII. AN EVENING AT THE "GOOSE AND GRIDIRON." + + XIX. GEORGE ROBINSON'S MARRIAGE. + + XX. SHOWING HOW MR. BRISKET DIDN'T SEE HIS WAY. + + XXI. MR. BROWN IS TAKEN ILL. + + XXII. WASTEFUL AND IMPETUOUS SALE. + + XXIII. FAREWELL. + + XXIV. GEORGE ROBINSON'S DREAM. + + +CHAPTER I. + +PREFACE. + +BY ONE OF THE FIRM. + + +It will be observed by the literary and commercial world that, in +this transaction, the name of the really responsible party does not +show on the title-page. I--George Robinson--am that party. When our +Mr. Jones objected to the publication of these memoirs unless they +appeared as coming from the firm itself, I at once gave way. I had +no wish to offend the firm, and, perhaps, encounter a lawsuit for +the empty honour of seeing my name advertised as that of an author. +We had talked the matter over with our Mr. Brown, who, however, +was at that time in affliction, and not able to offer much that +was available. One thing he did say; "As we are partners," said Mr. +Brown, "let's be partners to the end." "Well," said I, "if you say +so, Mr. Brown, so it shall be." I never supposed that Mr. Brown would +set the Thames on fire, and soon learnt that he was not the man to +amass a fortune by British commerce. He was not made for the guild +of Merchant Princes. But he was the senior member of our firm, and I +always respected the old-fashioned doctrine of capital in the person +of our Mr. Brown. + +When Mr. Brown said, "Let's be partners to the end; it won't be for +long, Mr. Robinson," I never said another word. "No," said I, "Mr. +Brown; you're not what you was--and you're down a peg; I'm not the +man to take advantage and go against your last wishes. Whether for +long or whether for short, we'll pull through in the same boat to the +end. It shall be put on the title-page--'By One of the Firm.'" "God +bless you, Mr. Robinson," said he; "God bless you." + +And then Mr. Jones started another objection. The reader will soon +realize that anything I do is sure to be wrong with Mr. Jones. It +wouldn't be him else. He next declares that I can't write English, +and that the book must be corrected, and put out by an editor? Now, +when I inform the discerning British Public that every advertisement +that has been posted by Brown, Jones, and Robinson, during the last +three years has come from my own unaided pen, I think few will doubt +my capacity to write the "Memoirs of Brown, Jones, and Robinson," +without any editor whatsoever. + +On this head I was determined to be firm. What! after preparing, and +correcting, and publishing such thousands of advertisements in prose +and verse and in every form of which the language is susceptible, +to be told that I couldn't write English! It was Jones all over. +If there is a party envious of the genius of another party in this +sublunary world that party is our Mr. Jones. + +But I was again softened by a touching appeal from our senior +partner. Mr. Brown, though prosaic enough in his general ideas, was +still sometimes given to the Muses; and now, with a melancholy and +tender cadence, he quoted the following lines;-- + + + "Let dogs delight to bark and bite, + For 'tis their nature to. + But 'tis a shameful sight to see, when partners of one firm + like we, + Fall out, and chide, and fight!" + + +So I gave in again. + +It was then arranged that one of Smith and Elder's young men should +look through the manuscript, and make any few alterations which the +taste of the public might require. It might be that the sonorous, +and, if I may so express myself, magniloquent phraseology in which +I was accustomed to invite the attention of the nobility and gentry +to our last importations was not suited for the purposes of light +literature, such as this. "In fiction, Mr. Robinson, your own unaided +talents would doubtless make you great," said to me the editor of +this Magazine; "but if I may be allowed an opinion, I do think that +in the delicate task of composing memoirs a little assistance may +perhaps be not inexpedient." + +This was prettily worded; so what with this, and what with our Mr. +Brown's poetry, I gave way; but I reserved to myself the right of an +epistolary preface in my own name. So here it is. + + +LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,--I am not a bit ashamed of my part in the +following transaction. I have done what little in me lay to further +British commerce. British commerce is not now what it was. It is +becoming open and free like everything else that is British;--open +to the poor man as well as to the rich. That bugbear Capital is a +crumbling old tower, and is pretty nigh brought to its last ruin. +Credit is the polished shaft of the temple on which the new world +of trade will be content to lean. That, I take it, is the one great +doctrine of modern commerce. Credit,--credit,--credit. Get credit, +and capital will follow. Doesn't the word speak for itself? Must not +credit be respectable? And is not the word "respectable" the highest +term of praise which can be applied to the British tradesman? + +Credit is the polished shaft of the temple. But with what are you to +polish it? The stone does not come from the quarry with its gloss on. +Man's labour is necessary to give it that beauteous exterior. Then +wherewith shall we polish credit? I answer the question at once. With +the pumice-stone and sand-paper of advertisement. + +Different great men have promulgated the different means by which they +have sought to subjugate the world. "Audacity--audacity--audacity," +was the lesson which one hero taught. "Agitate--agitate--agitate," +was the counsel of a second. "Register--register--register," of a +third. But I say--Advertise, advertise, advertise! And I say it again +and again--Advertise, advertise, advertise! It is, or should be, +the Shibboleth of British commerce. That it certainly will be so I, +George Robinson, hereby venture to prophesy, feeling that on this +subject something but little short of inspiration has touched my +eager pen. + +There are those,--men of the old school, who cannot rouse themselves +to see and read the signs of the time, men who would have been in +the last ranks, let them have lived when they would,--who object to +it that it is untrue,--who say that advertisements do not keep the +promises which they make. But what says the poet,--he whom we teach +our children to read? What says the stern moralist to his wicked +mother in the play? "Assume a virtue if you have it not?" and so say +I. "Assume a virtue if you have it not." It would be a great trade +virtue in a haberdasher to have forty thousand pairs of best hose +lying ready for sale in his warehouse. Let him assume that virtue if +he have it not. Is not this the way in which we all live, and the +only way in which it is possible to live comfortably. A gentleman +gives a dinner party. His lady, who has to work all day like a +dray-horse and scold the servants besides, to get things into order, +loses her temper. We all pretty well know what that means. Well; up +to the moment when she has to show, she is as bitter a piece of goods +as may be. But, nevertheless, she comes down all smiles, although she +knows that at that moment the drunken cook is spoiling the fish. She +assumes a virtue, though she has it not; and who will say she is not +right? + +Well; I say again and again to all young tradesmen;--Advertise, +advertise, advertise;--and don't stop to think too much about +capital. It is a bugbear. Capital is a bugbear; and it is talked +about by those who have it,--and by some that have not so much of it +neither,--for the sake of putting down competition, and keeping the +market to themselves. + +There's the same game going on all the world over; and it's the +natural game for mankind to play at. They who's up a bit is all for +keeping down them who is down; and they who is down is so very soft +through being down, that they've not spirit to force themselves up. +Now I saw that very early in life. There is always going on a battle +between aristocracy and democracy. Aristocracy likes to keep itself +to itself; and democracy is just of the same opinion, only wishes to +become aristocracy first. + +We of the people are not very fond of dukes; but we'd all like to be +dukes well enough ourselves. Now there are dukes in trade as well +as in society. Capitalists are our dukes; and as they don't like to +have their heels trod upon any more than the other ones, why they +are always preaching up capital. It is their star and garter, their +coronet, their ermine, their robe of state, their cap of maintenance, +their wand of office, their noli me tangere. But stars and garters, +caps and wands, and all other noli me tangeres, are gammon to those +who can see through them. And capital is gammon. Capital is a very +nice thing if you can get it. It is the desirable result of trade. A +tradesman looks to end with a capital. But it's gammon to say that +he can't begin without it. You might as well say a man can't marry +unless he has first got a family. Why, he marries that he may have a +family. It's putting the cart before the horse. + +It's my opinion that any man can be a duke if so be it's born to him. +It requires neither wit nor industry, nor any pushing nor go-ahead +whatsoever. A man may sit still in his arm-chair, half asleep half +his time, and only half awake the other, and be as good a duke as +need be. Well; it's just the same in trade. If a man is born to a +dukedom there, if he begins with a large capital, why, I for one +would not thank him to be successful. Any fool could do as much as +that. He has only to keep on polishing his own star and garter, and +there are lots of people to swear that there is no one like him. + +But give me the man who can be a duke without being born to it. Give +me the man who can go ahead in trade without capital; who can begin +the world with a quick pair of hands, a quick brain to govern them, +and can end with a capital. + +Well, there you are; a young tradesman beginning the world without +capital. Capital, though it's a bugbear, nevertheless it's a virtue. +Therefore, as you haven't got it, you must assume it. That's credit. +Credit I take to be the belief of other people in a thing that +doesn't really exist. When you go into your friend Smith's house, +and find Mrs. S. all smiles, you give her credit for the sweetest of +tempers. Your friend S. knows better; but then you see she's had wit +enough to obtain credit. When I draw a bill at three months, and get +it done, I do the same thing. That's credit. Give me credit enough, +and I don't care a brass button for capital. If I could have but one +wish, I would never ask a fairy for a second or a third. Let me have +but unreserved credit, and I'll beat any duke of either aristocracy. + +To obtain credit the only certain method is to advertise. Advertise, +advertise, advertise. That is, assume, assume, assume. Go on assuming +your virtue. The more you haven't got it, the more you must assume +it. The bitterer your own heart is about that drunken cook and that +idle husband who will do nothing to assist you, the sweeter you +must smile. Smile sweet enough, and all the world will believe you. +Advertise long enough, and credit will come. + +But there must be some nous in your advertisements; there must be a +system, and there must be some wit in your system. It won't suffice +now-a-days to stick up on a blank wall a simple placard to say that +you have forty thousand best hose just new arrived. Any wooden-headed +fellow can do as much as that. That might have served in the olden +times that we hear of, twenty years since; but the game to be +successful in these days must be played in another sort of fashion. +There must be some finish about your advertisements, something new in +your style, something that will startle in your manner. If a man can +make himself a real master of this art, we may say that he has learnt +his trade, whatever that trade may be. Let him know how to advertise, +and the rest will follow. + +It may be that I shouldn't boast; but yet I do boast that I have made +some little progress in this business. If I haven't yet practised +the art in all its perfections, nevertheless I flatter myself I have +learned how to practise it. Regarding myself as something of a master +of this art, and being actuated by purely philanthropic motives in my +wish to make known my experience, I now put these memoirs before the +public. + +It will, of course, be urged against me that I have not been +successful in what I have already attempted, and that our house +has failed. This is true. I have not been successful. Our house +has failed. But with whom has the fault been? Certainly not in my +department. + +The fact is, and in this my preface I will not keep the truth +back from a discerning public, that no firm on earth,--or indeed +elsewhere,--could be successful in which our Mr. Jones is one of the +partners. There is an overweening vanity about that man which is +quite upsetting. I confess I have been unable to stand it. Vanity is +always allied to folly, and the relationship is very close in the +person of our Mr. Jones. Of Mr. Brown I will never bring myself to +say one disrespectful word. He is not now what he was once. From the +bottom of my heart I pity his misfortunes. Think what it must be +to be papa to a Goneril and a Regan,--without the Cordelia. I have +always looked on Mrs. Jones as a regular Goneril; and as for the +Regan, why it seems to me that Miss Brown is likely to be Miss Regan +to the end of the chapter. + +No; of Mr. Brown I will say nothing disrespectful; but he never was +the man to be first partner in an advertising firm. That was our +mistake. He had old-fashioned views about capital which were very +burdensome. My mistake was this,--that in joining myself with Mr. +Brown, I compromised my principles, and held out, as it were, a left +hand to capital. He had not much, as will be seen; but he thought a +deal of what he had got, and talked a deal of it too. This impeded my +wings. This prevented me from soaring. One cannot touch pitch and not +be defiled. I have been untrue to myself in having had any dealings +on the basis of capital; and hence has it arisen that hitherto I have +failed. + +I make these confessions hoping that they may be serviceable to trade +in general. A man cannot learn a great secret, and the full use of a +great secret, all at once. My eyes are now open. I shall not again +make so fatal a mistake. I am still young. I have now learned my +lesson more thoroughly, and I yet anticipate success with some +confidence. + +Had Mr. Brown at once taken my advice, had his few thousand pounds +been liberally expended in commencing a true system of advertising, +we should have been,--I can hardly surmise where we should have been. +He was for sticking altogether to the old system. Mr. Jones was for +mixing the old and the new, for laying in stock and advertising as +well, with a capital of 4,000_l_! What my opinion is of Mr. Jones I +will not now say, but of Mr. Brown I will never utter one word of +disparagement. + +I have now expressed what few words I wish to say on my own bottom. +As to what has been done in the following pages by the young man who +has been employed to look over these memoirs and put them into shape, +it is not for me to speak. It may be that I think they might have +read more natural-like had no other cook had a finger in the pie. The +facts, however, are facts still. These have not been cooked. + +Ladies and gentlemen, you who have so long distinguished our firm by +a liberal patronage, to you I now respectfully appeal, and in showing +to you a new article I beg to assure you with perfect confidence that +there is nothing equal to it at the price at present in the market. +The supply on hand is immense, but as a sale of unprecedented +rapidity is anticipated, may I respectfully solicit your early +orders? If not approved of the article shall be changed. + +Ladies and gentlemen, +We have the honour to subscribe ourselves, +With every respect, +Your most obedient humble servants, +BROWN, JONES, AND ROBINSON, +PER GEORGE ROBINSON. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE EARLY HISTORY OF OUR MR. BROWN, WITH SOME FEW WORDS OF MR. JONES. + + +O Commerce, how wonderful are thy ways, how vast thy power, how +invisible thy dominion! Who can restrain thee and forbid thy further +progress? Kings are but as infants in thy hands, and emperors, +despotic in all else, are bound to obey thee! Thou civilizest, hast +civilized, and wilt civilize. Civilization is thy mission, and man's +welfare thine appointed charge. The nation that most warmly fosters +thee shall ever be the greatest in the earth; and without thee no +nation shall endure for a day. Thou art our Alpha and our Omega, our +beginning and our end; the marrow of our bones, the salt of our life, +the sap of our branches, the corner-stone of our temple, the rock of +our foundation. We are built on thee, and for thee, and with thee. To +worship thee should be man's chiefest care, to know thy hidden ways +his chosen study. + +One maxim hast thou, O Commerce, great and true and profitable above +all others;--one law which thy votaries should never transgress. "Buy +in the cheapest market and sell in the dearest." May those divine +words be ever found engraved on the hearts of Brown, Jones, and +Robinson! + +Of Mr. Brown, the senior member of our firm, it is expedient that +some short memoir should be given. At the time at which we signed +our articles in 185--, Mr. Brown had just retired from the butter +business. It does not appear that in his early youth he ever had the +advantage of an apprenticeship, and he seems to have been employed +in various branches of trade in the position, if one may say so, +of an out-door messenger. In this capacity he entered the service +of Mr. McCockerell, a retail butter dealer in Smithfield. When Mr. +McCockerell died our Mr. Brown married his widow, and thus found +himself elevated at once to the full-blown dignity of a tradesman. He +and his wife lived together for thirty years, and it is believed that +in the temper of his lady he found some alloy to the prosperity which +he had achieved. The widow McCockerell, in bestowing her person upon +Mr. Brown, had not intended to endow him also with entire dominion +over her shop and chattels. She loved to be supreme over her butter +tubs, and she loved also to be supreme over her till. Brown's views +on the rights of women were more in accordance with the law of the +land as laid down in the statutes. He opined that a _femme couverte_ +could own no property, not even a butter tub;--and hence quarrels +arose. + +After thirty years of contests such as these Mr. Brown found himself +victorious, made so not by the power of arguments, nor by that of +his own right arm, but by the demise of Mrs. Brown. That amiable +lady died, leaving two daughters to lament their loss, and a series +of family quarrels, by which she did whatever lay in her power to +embarrass her husband, but by which she could not prevent him from +becoming absolute owner of the butter business, and of the stock in +trade. + +The two young ladies had not been brought up to the ways of the +counter; and as Mr. Brown was not himself especially expert at that +particular business in which his money was embarked, he prudently +thought it expedient to dispose of the shop and goodwill. This he +did to advantage; and thus at the age of fifty-five he found himself +again on the world with 4,000_l_. in his pocket. + +At this period one of his daughters was no longer under his own +charge. Sarah Jane, the eldest of the two, was already Mrs. Jones. +She had been captivated by the black hair and silk waistcoat of Mr. +Jones, and had gone off with him in opposition to the wishes of both +parents. This, she was aware, was not matter of much moment, for +the opposition of one was sure to bring about a reconciliation with +the other. And such was soon the case. Mrs. Brown would not see her +daughter, or allow Jones to put his foot inside the butter-shop. Mr. +Brown consequently took lodgings for them in the neighbourhood, and +hence a close alliance sprung up between the future partners. + +At this crisis Maryanne devoted herself to her mother. It was +admitted by all who knew her that Maryanne Brown had charms. At that +time she was about twenty-four years of age, and was certainly a fine +young woman. She was, like her mother, a little too much inclined to +corpulence, and there may be those who would not allow that her hair +was auburn. Mr. Robinson, however, who was then devotedly attached to +her, was of that opinion, and was ready to maintain his views against +any man who would dare to say that it was red. + +There was a dash about Maryanne Brown at that period which endeared +her greatly to Mr. Robinson. She was quite above anything mean, and +when her papa was left a widower in possession of four thousand +pounds, she was one of those who were most anxious to induce him +to go to work with spirit in a new business. She was all for +advertising; that must be confessed of her, though her subsequent +conduct was not all that it should have been. Maryanne Brown, when +tried in the furnace, did not come out pure gold; but this, at any +rate, shall be confessed in her behalf, that she had a dash about +her, and understood more of the tricks of trade than any other of her +family. + +Mrs. McCockerell died about six months after her eldest daughter's +marriage. She was generally called Mrs. McCockerell in the +neighbourhood of Smithfield, though so many years had passed since +she had lost her right to that name. Indeed, she generally preferred +being so styled, as Mr. Brown was peculiarly averse to it. The name +was wormwood to him, and this was quite sufficient to give it melody +in her ears. + +The good lady died about six months after her daughter's marriage. +She was struck with apoplexy, and at that time had not been +reconciled to her married daughter. Sarah Jane, nevertheless, when +she heard what had occurred, came over to Smithfield. Her husband was +then in employment as shopman at the large haberdashery house on Snow +Hill, and lived with his wife in lodgings in Cowcross Street. They +were supported nearly entirely by Mr. Brown, and therefore owed to +him at this crisis not only obedience, but dutiful affection. + +When, however, Sarah Jane first heard of her mother's illness, she +seemed to think that she couldn't quarrel with her father fast +enough. Jones had an idea that the old lady's money must go to her +daughters, that she had the power of putting it altogether out of the +hands of her husband, and that having the power she would certainly +exercise it. On this speculation he had married; and as he and his +wife fully concurred in their financial views, it was considered +expedient by them to lose no time in asserting their right. This they +did as soon as the breath was out of the old lady's body. + +Jones had married Sarah Jane solely with this view; and, indeed, +it was highly improbable that he should have done so on any other +consideration. Sarah Jane was certainly not a handsome girl. Her neck +was scraggy, her arms lean, and her lips thin; and she resembled +neither her father nor her mother. Her light brown, sandy hair, which +always looked as though it were too thin and too short to adapt +itself to any feminine usage, was also not of her family; but her +disposition was a compound of the paternal and maternal qualities. +She had all her father's painful hesitating timidity, and with it all +her mother's grasping spirit. If there ever was an eye that looked +sharp after the pence, that could weigh the ounces of a servant's +meal at a glance, and foresee and prevent the expenditure of a +farthing, it was the eye of Sarah Jane Brown. They say that it is +as easy to save a fortune as to make one; and in this way, if in no +other, Jones may be said to have got a fortune with his wife. + +As soon as the breath was out of Mrs. McCockerell's body, Sarah Jane +was there, taking inventory of the stock. At that moment poor Mr. +Brown was very much to be pitied. He was a man of feeling, and even +if his heart was not touched by his late loss, he knew what was due +to decency. It behoved him now as a widower to forget the deceased +lady's faults, and to put her under the ground with solemnity. This +was done with the strictest propriety; and although he must, of +course, have been thinking a good deal at that time as to whether he +was to be a beggar or a rich man, nevertheless he conducted himself +till after the funeral as though he hadn't a care on his mind, except +the loss of Mrs. B. + +Maryanne was as much on the alert as her sister. She had been for the +last six months her mother's pet, as Sarah Jane had been her father's +darling. There was some excuse, therefore, for Maryanne when she +endeavoured to get what she could in the scramble. Sarah Jane played +the part of Goneril to the life, and would have denied her father the +barest necessaries of existence, had it not ultimately turned out +that the property was his own. + +Maryanne was not well pleased to see her sister returning to the +house at such a moment. She, at least, had been dutiful to her +mother, or, if undutiful, not openly so. If Mrs. McCockerell had the +power of leaving her property to whom she pleased, it would be only +natural that she should leave it to the daughter who had obeyed her, +and not to the daughter who had added to personal disobedience the +worse fault of having been on friendly terms with her father. + +This, one would have thought, would have been clear at any rate to +Jones, if not to Sarah Jane; but they both seemed at this time to +have imagined that the eldest child had some right to the inheritance +as being the eldest. It will be observed by this and by many other +traits in his character that Mr. Jones had never enjoyed the +advantages of an education. + +Mrs. McCockerell never spoke after the fit first struck her. She +never moved an eye, or stirred a limb, or uttered a word. It was a +wretched household at that time. The good lady died on a Wednesday, +and was gathered to her fathers at Kensal Green Cemetery on the +Tuesday following. During the intervening days Mr. Jones and Sarah +Jane took on themselves as though they were owners of everything. +Maryanne did try to prevent the inventory, not wishing it to appear +that Mrs. Jones had any right to meddle; but the task was too +congenial to Sarah Jane's spirit to allow of her giving it over. She +revelled in the work. It was a delight to her to search out hidden +stores of useless wealth,--to bring forth to the light forgotten +hoards of cups and saucers, and to catalogue every rag on the +premises. + +The house at this time was not a pleasant one. Mr. Brown, finding +that Jones, in whom he had trusted, had turned against him, put +himself very much into the hands of a young friend of his, named +George Robinson. Who and what George Robinson was will be told in the +next chapter. + +"There are three questions," said Robinson, "to be asked and +answered.--Had Mrs. B. the power to make a will? If so, did she make +a will? And if so, what was the will she made?" + +Mr. Brown couldn't remember whether or no there had been any signing +of papers at his marriage. A good deal of rum and water, he said, had +been drunk; and there might have been signing too,--but he didn't +remember it. + +Then there was the search for the will. This was supposed to be in +the hands of one Brisket, a butcher, for whom it was known Mrs. +McCockerell had destined the hand of her younger daughter. Mr. +Brisket had been a great favourite with the old lady, and she had +often been heard to declare that he should have the wife and money, +or the money without the wife. This she said to coerce Maryanne into +the match. + +But Brisket, when questioned, declared that he had no will in his +possession. At this time he kept aloof from the house and showed no +disposition to meddle with the affairs of the family. Indeed, all +through these trying days he behaved honestly, if not with high +feeling. In recounting the doings of Brown, Jones, and Robinson, it +will sometimes be necessary to refer to Mr. Brisket. He shall always +be spoken of as an honest man. He did all that in him lay to mar the +bright hopes of one who was perhaps not the most insignificant of +that firm. He destroyed the matrimonial hopes of Mr. Robinson, and +left him to wither like a blighted trunk on a lone waste. But he was, +nevertheless, an honest man, and so much shall be said of him. Let us +never forget that "An honest man is the noblest work of God." + +Brisket, when asked, said that he had no will, and that he knew of +none. In fact there was no will forthcoming, and there is no doubt +that the old woman was cut off before she had made one. It may also +be premised that had she made one it would have been invalid, seeing +that Mr. Brown, as husband, was, in fact, the owner of the whole +affair. + +Sarah Jane and Maryanne, when they found that no document was +forthcoming, immediately gave out that they intended to take on +themselves the duties of joint heiresses, and an alliance, offensive +and defensive, was sworn between them. At this time Mr. Brown +employed a lawyer, and the heiresses, together with Jones, employed +another. There could be no possible doubt as to Mr. Brown being the +owner of the property, however infatuated on such a subject Jones and +his wife may have been. No lawyer in London could have thought that +the young women had a leg to stand upon. Nevertheless, the case was +undertaken, and Brown found himself in the middle of a lawsuit. Sarah +Jane and Maryanne both remained in the house in Smithfield to guard +the property on their own behalf. Mr. Brown also remained to guard it +on his behalf. The business for a time was closed. This was done in +opposition both to Mr. Brown and Maryanne; but Mrs. Jones could not +bring herself to permit the purchase of a firkin of butter, unless +the transaction could be made absolutely under her own eyes; and, +even then, she would insist on superintending the retail herself and +selling every pound, short weight. It was the custom of the trade, +she said; and to depart from it would ruin them. + +Things were in this condition, going from bad to worse, when Jones +came over one evening, and begged an interview with Mr. Brown. That +interview was the commencement of the partnership. From such small +matters do great events arise. + +At that interview Mr. Robinson was present. Mr. Brown indeed declared +that he would have no conversation with Jones on business affairs, +unless in the presence of a third party. Jones represented that if +they went on as they were now doing, the property would soon be +swallowed up by the lawyers. To this Mr. Brown, whose forte was not +eloquence, tacitly assented with a deep groan. + +"Then," said Jones, "let us divide it into three portions. You shall +have one; Sarah Jane a second; and I will manage the third on behalf +of my sister-in-law, Maryanne. If we arrange it well, the lawyers +will never get a shilling." + +The idea of a compromise appeared to Mr. Brown to be not +uncommendable; but a compromise on such terms as those could not of +course be listened to. Robinson strongly counselled him to nail his +colours to the mast, and kick Mr. Jones downstairs. But Mr. Brown had +not spirit for this. + +"One's children is one's children," said he to Robinson, when they +went apart into the shop to talk the matter over. "The fruit of one's +loins, and the prop of one's age." + +Robinson could not help thinking that Sarah Jane was about as bad a +prop as any that ever a man leant on; but he was too generous to say +so. The matter was ended at last by a compromise. "Go on with the +business together," said Robinson; "Mr. Brown keeping, of course, a +preponderating share in his own hands." + +"I don't like butter," said Jones. "Nothing great can be done in +butter." + +"It is a very safe line," said Mr. Brown, "if the connection is +good." + +"The connection must have been a good deal damaged," said Robinson, +"seeing that the shop has been closed for a fortnight. Besides, it's +a woman's business;--and you have no woman to manage it," added he, +fearing that Mrs. Jones might be brought in, to the detriment of all +concerned. + +Jones suggested haberdashery; Robinson, guided by a strong idea +that there is a more absolute opening for the advertising line in +haberdashery than in any other business, assented. + +"Then let it be haberdashery," said Mr. Brown, with a sigh. And so +that was settled. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE EARLY HISTORY OF MR. ROBINSON. + + +And haberdashery it was. But here it may be as well to say a few +words as to Mr. Robinson, and to explain how he became a member of +the firm. He had been in his boyhood,--a bill-sticker; and he defies +the commercial world to show that he ever denied it. In his earlier +days he carried the paste and pole, and earned a livelihood by +putting up notices of theatrical announcements on the hoardings of +the metropolis. There was, however, that within him which Nature +did not intend to throw away on the sticking of bills, as was found +out quickly enough by those who employed him. The lad, while he was +running the streets with his pole in his hand, and his pot round his +neck, learned first to read, and then to write what others might +read. From studying the bills which he carried, he soon took to +original composition; and it may be said of him, that in fluency of +language and richness of imagery few surpassed him. In person Mr. +Robinson was a genteel young man, though it cannot be said of him +that he possessed manly beauty. He was slight and active, intelligent +in his physiognomy, and polite in his demeanour. Perhaps it may be +unnecessary to say anything further on this head. + +Mr. Robinson had already established himself as an author in his +own line, and was supporting himself decently by his own unaided +abilities, when he first met Maryanne Brown in the Regent's Park. +She was then walking with her sister, and resolutely persisted in +disregarding all those tokens of admiration which he found himself +unable to restrain. + +There certainly was a dash about Maryanne Brown that at certain +moments was invincible. Hooped petticoats on the back of her sister +looked like hoops, and awkward hoops. They were angular, lopsided, +and lumpy. But Maryanne wore her hoops as a duchess wears her +crinoline. Her well-starched muslin dress would swell off from her +waist in a manner that was irresistible to George Robinson. "Such +grouping!" as he said to his friend Walker. "Such a flow of drapery! +such tournure! Ah, my dear fellow, the artist's eye sees these things +at a glance." And then, walking at a safe distance, he kept his eyes +on them. + +"I'm sure that fellow's following us," said Sarah Jane, looking back +at him with all her scorn. + +"There's no law against that, I suppose," said Maryanne, tartly. So +much as that Mr. Robinson did succeed in hearing. + +The girls entered their mother's house; but as they did so, Maryanne +lingered for a moment in the doorway. Was it accident, or was it not? +Did the fair girl choose to give her admirer one chance, or was it +that she was careful not to crush her starch by too rapid an entry? + +"I shall be in Regent's Park on Sunday afternoon," whispered +Robinson, as he passed by the house, with his hand to his mouth. It +need hardly be said that the lady vouchsafed him no reply. + +On the following Sunday George Robinson was again in the park, +and after wandering among its rural shades for half a day, he was +rewarded by seeing the goddess of his idolatry. Miss Brown was there +with a companion, but not with Sarah Jane. He had already, as though +by instinct, conceived in his heart as powerful an aversion for one +sister as affection for the other, and his delight was therefore +unbounded when he saw that she he loved was there, while she he hated +was away. + +'Twere long to tell, at the commencement of this narrative, how a +courtship was commenced and carried on; how Robinson sighed, at first +in vain and then not in vain; how good-natured was Miss Twizzle, the +bosom friend of Maryanne; and how Robinson for a time walked and +slept and fed on roses. + +There was at that time a music class held at a certain elegant room +near Osnaburgh Church in the New Road, at which Maryanne and her +friend Miss Twizzle were accustomed to attend. Those lessons were +sometimes prosecuted in the evening, and those evening studies +sometimes resulted in a little dance. We may say that after a while +that was their habitual tendency, and that the lady pupils were +permitted to introduce their male friends on condition that the +gentlemen paid a shilling each for the privilege. It was in that room +that George Robinson passed the happiest hours of his chequered +existence. He was soon expert in all the figures of the mazy dance, +and was excelled by no one in the agility of his step or the +endurance of his performances. It was by degrees rumoured about +that he was something higher than he seemed to be, and those best +accustomed to the place used to call him the Poet. It must be +remembered that at this time Mrs. McCockerell was still alive, and +that as Sarah Jane had then become Mrs. Jones, Maryanne was her +mother's favourite, and destined to receive all her mother's gifts. +Of the name and person of William Brisket, George Robinson was then +in happy ignorance, and the first introduction between them took +place in the Hall of Harmony. + +'Twas about eleven o'clock in the evening, when the light feet of +the happy dancers had already been active for some hour or so in the +worship of their favourite muse, that Robinson was standing up with +his arm round his fair one's waist, immediately opposite to the door +of entrance. His right arm still embraced her slight girdle, whilst +with his left hand he wiped the perspiration from his brow. She +leaned against him palpitating, for the motion of the music had been +quick, and there had been some amicable contest among the couples. +It is needless to say that George Robinson and Maryanne Brown had +suffered no defeat. At that moment a refreshing breeze of the night +air was wafted into the room from the opened door, and Robinson, +looking up, saw before him a sturdy, thickset man, with mottled beefy +face, and by his side there stood a spectre. "It's your sister," +whispered he to Maryanne, in a tone of horror. + +"Oh, laws! there's Bill," said she, and then she fainted. The +gentleman with the mottled face was indeed no other than Mr. Brisket, +the purveyor of meat, for whose arms Mrs. McCockerell had destined +the charms of her younger daughter. Conduct baser than that of Mrs. +Jones on this occasion is not perhaps recorded in history. She was no +friend of Brisket's. She had it not at heart to forward her mother's +views. At this period of their lives she and her mother never met. +But she had learned her sister's secret, and having it in her +power to crush her sister's happiness, had availed herself of the +opportunity. + +"There he is," said she, quite aloud, so that the whole room should +hear. "He's a bill-sticker!" and she pointed the finger of scorn at +her sister's lover. + +"I'm one who have always earned my own living," said Robinson, "and +never had occasion to hang on to any one." This he said knowing that +Jones's lodgings were paid for by Mr. Brown. + +Hereupon Mr. Brisket walked across the room, and as he walked there +was a cloud of anger on his brow. "Perhaps, young man," he said,--and +as he spoke he touched Robinson on the shoulder,--"perhaps, young +man, you wouldn't mind having a few words with me outside the door." + +"Sir," said the other with some solemnity, "I am not aware that I +have the honour of your acquaintance." + +"I'm William Brisket, butcher," said he; "and if you don't come out +when I asks you, by jingo, I'll carry you." + +The lady had fainted. The crowd of dancers was standing round, with +inquiring faces. That female spectre repeated the odious words, still +pointing at him with her finger, "He's a bill-sticker!" Brisket was +full fourteen stone, whereas Robinson might perhaps be ten. What was +Robinson to do? "Are you going to walk out, or am I going to carry +you?" said the Hercules of the slaughter-house. + +"I will do anything," said Robinson, "to relieve a lady's +embarrassment." + +They walked out on to the landing-place, whither not a few of the +gentlemen and some of the ladies followed them. + +"I say, young man," said Brisket, "do you know who that young woman +is?" + +"I certainly have the honour of her acquaintance," said Robinson. + +"But perhaps you haven't the honour of knowing that she's my +wife,--as is to be. Now you know it." And then the coarse monster +eyed him from head to foot. "Now you may go home to your mother," +said he. "But don't tell her anything of it, because it's a secret." + +He was fifteen stone at least, and Robinson was hardly ten. Oh, how +vile is the mastery which matter still has over mind in many of the +concerns of life! How can a man withstand the assault of a bull? What +was Robinson to do? He walked downstairs into the street, leaving +Maryanne behind with the butcher. + +Some days after this he contrived a meeting with his love, and he +then learned the history of that engagement. "She hated Brisket," +she said. "He was odious to her. He was always greasy and smelt of +meat;--but he had a respectable business." + +"And is my Maryanne mercenary?" asked Robinson. + +"Now, George," said she, "it's no use you scolding me, and I won't be +scolded. Ma says that I must be civil to him, and I'm not going to +quarrel with ma. At any rate not yet." + +"But surely, Maryanne--" + +"It's no good you surelying me, George, for I won't be surelyed. If +you don't like me you can leave me." + +"Maryanne, I adore you." + +"That's all very well, and I hope you do; but why did you make a row +with that man the other night?" + +"But, dearest love, he made the row with me." + +"And when you did make it," continued Maryanne, "why didn't you see +it out?" Robinson did not find it easy to answer this accusation. +That matter has still dominion over mind, though the days are coming +when mind shall have dominion over matter, was a lesson which, in +after days, it would be sweet to teach her. But at the present moment +the time did not serve for such teaching. "A man must look after his +own, George, or else he'll go to the wall," she said, with a sneer. +And then he parted from her in anger. + +But his love did not on that account wax cool, and so in his misery +he had recourse to their mutual friend, Miss Twizzle. "The truth is +this," said Miss Twizzle, "I believe she'd take him, because he's +respectable and got a business." + +"He's horribly vulgar," said Robinson. + +"Oh, bother!" said Miss Twizzle. "I know nothing about that. He's got +a business, and whoever marries Brisket won't have to look for a bed +to sleep on. But there's a hitch about the money." + +Then Mr. Robinson learned the facts. Mrs. McCockerell, as she was +still called, had promised to give her daughter five hundred pounds +as her marriage portion, but Mr. Brisket would not go to the altar +till he got the money. "He wanted to extend himself," he said, "and +would not marry till he saw his way." Hence had arisen that delay +which Maryanne had solaced by her attendance at the music-hall. + +"But if you're in earnest," said Miss Twizzle, "don't you be down on +your luck. Go to old Brown, and make friends with him. He'll stand up +for you, because he knows his wife favours Brisket." + +George Robinson did go to Mr. Brown, and on the father the young +man's eloquence was not thrown away. "She shall be yours, Mr. +Robinson," he said, after the first fortnight. "But we must be very +careful with Mrs. B." + +After the second fortnight Mrs. B. was no more! And in this way it +came to pass that George Robinson was present as Mr. Brown's adviser +when that scheme respecting the haberdashery was first set on foot. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +NINE TIMES NINE IS EIGHTY-ONE. SHOWING HOW BROWN, JONES, AND ROBINSON +SELECTED THEIR HOUSE OF BUSINESS. + + +And haberdashery it was. But there was much yet to be done before any +terms for a partnership could be settled. Mr. Jones at first insisted +that he and his father-in-law should begin business on equal terms. +He considered that any questions as to the actual right in the +property would be mean after their mutual agreement to start in the +world as friends. But to this Mr. Brown, not unnaturally, objected. + +"Then I shall go back to my lawyer," said Jones. Whereupon he did +leave the room, taking his hat with him; but he remained below in the +old shop. + +"If I am to go into partnership with that man alone," said Mr. Brown, +turning to his young friend almost in despair, "I may prepare for the +Gazette at once.--And for my grave!" he added, solemnly. + +"I'll join you," said Robinson. "I haven't got any money. You know +that. But then neither has he." + +"I wish you had a little," said Mr. Brown. "Capital is capital, you +know." + +"But I've got that which is better than capital," said Robinson, +touching his forehead with his forefinger. "And if you'll trust me, +Mr. Brown, I won't see you put upon." The promise which Mr. Robinson +then gave he kept ever afterwards with a marked fidelity. + +"I will trust you," said Mr. Brown. "It shall be Brown, Jones, and +Robinson." + +"And Brown, Jones, and Robinson shall carry their heads high among +the greatest commercial firms of this wealthy metropolis," said +Robinson, with an enthusiasm which was surely pardonable at such a +moment. + +Mr. Jones soon returned with another compromise; but it was of a low, +peddling nature. It had reference to sevenths and eighths, and went +into the payments of the household bills. "I, as one of the partners, +must object to any such arrangements," said Robinson. + +"You!--you one of the partners!" said Jones. + +"If you have no objection--certainly!" said Robinson. "And if you +should have any objection,--equally so." + +"You!--a bill-sticker!" said Jones. + +In the presence of William Brisket, George Robinson had been forced +to acknowledge that matter must still occasionally prevail over mind; +but he felt no such necessity in the presence of Jones. "I'll tell +you what it is," said Robinson; "I've never denied my former calling. +Among friends I often talk about it. But mind you, Mr. Jones, I won't +bear it from you! I'm not very big myself, but I think I could stand +up before you!" + +But in this quarrel they were stopped by Mr. Brown. "Let dogs +delight," he said or sung, "to bark and bite;--" and then he raised +his two fat hands feebly, as though deprecating any further wrath. +As usual on such occasions Mr. Robinson yielded, and then explained +in very concise language the terms on which it was proposed that the +partnership should be opened. Mr. Brown should put his "capital" into +the business, and be entitled to half the profits. Mr. Jones and Mr. +Robinson should give the firm the advantage of their youth, energies, +and genius, and should each be held as the possessor of a quarter. +That Mr. Jones made long and fierce objections to this, need hardly +be stated. It is believed that he did, more than once, go back to his +lawyer. But Mr. Brown, who, for the time, put himself into the hands +of his youngest partner, remained firm, and at last the preliminaries +were settled. + +The name of the house, the nature of the business, and the shares of +the partners were now settled, and the site of the future labours of +the firm became the next question. Mr. Brown was in favour of a small +tenement in Little Britain, near to the entrance into Smithfield. + +"There would not be scope there," said Robinson. + +"And no fashion," said Jones. + +"It's safe and respectable," pleaded Mr. Brown. "There have been +shops in Little Britain these sixty years in the same families." + +But Robinson was of opinion that the fortunes of the firm might +not improbably be made in six, if only they would commence with +sufficient distinction. He had ascertained that large and commanding +premises might be had in St. Paul's Churchyard, in the frontage +of which the square feet of plate glass could be counted by the +hundred. It was true that the shop was nearly all window; but then, +as Mr. Robinson said, an extended front of glass was the one thing +necessary. And it was true also that the future tenants must pay down +a thousand pounds before they entered;--but then, as he explained, +how could they better expend the trifle of money which they +possessed? + +"Trifle of money!" said Mr. Brown, thinking of the mountains of +butter and years of economy which had been required to put together +those four thousand pounds;--thinking also, perhaps, of the absolute +impecuniosity of his young partner who thus spoke. + +Jones was for the West End and Regent Street. There was a shop only +two doors off Regent Street, which could be made to look as if it +was almost in Regent Street. The extension of a side piece of plate +glass would show quite into Regent Street. He even prepared a card, +describing the house as "2 doors from Regent Street," printing the +figure and the words "Regent Street" very large, and the intermediate +description very small. It was ever by such stale, inefficient +artifices as these that he sought success. + +"Who'll care for your card?" said Robinson. "When a man's card comes +to be of use to him, the thing's done. He's living in his villa by +that time, and has his five thousand a-year out of the profits." + +"I hope you'll both have your willas before long," said Brown, trying +to keep his partners in good humour. "But a cottage _horney_ will be +enough for me. I'd like to be able to give my children their bit of +dinner on Sunday hot and comfortable. I want no more than that." + +That was a hard battle, and it resulted in no victory. The dingy shop +in Little Britain was, of course, out of the question; and Mr. Brown +assisted Robinson in preventing that insane attempt at aping the +unprofitable glories of Regent Street. The matter ended in another +compromise, and a house was taken in Bishopsgate Street, of which +the frontage was extensive and commanding, but as to which it must +certainly be confessed that the back part of the premises was +inconveniently confined. + +"It isn't exactly all I could wish," said Robinson, standing on +the pavement as he surveyed it. "But it will do. With a little +originality and some dash, we'll make it do. We must give it a name." + +"A name?" said Mr. Brown; "it's 81, Bishopsgate Street; ain't it? +They don't call houses names in London." + +"That's just why we'll have a name for ours, Mr. Brown." + +"The 'Albert Emporium,'" suggested Jones; "or 'Victoria Mart.'" + +Mr. Jones, as will be seen, was given to tuft-hunting to the +backbone. His great ambition was to have a lion and unicorn, and to +call himself haberdasher to a royal prince. He had never realized the +fact that profit, like power, comes from the people, and not from +the court. "I wouldn't put up the Queen's arms if the Queen came and +asked me," Robinson once said in answer to him. "That game has been +played out, and it isn't worth the cost of the two wooden figures." + +"'The Temple of Fashion' would do very well," said Jones. + +"The Temple of Fiddlestick!" said Robinson. + +"Of course you say so," said Jones. + +"Let dogs delight--" began Mr. Brown, standing as we were in the +middle of the street. + +"I'll tell you what," said Robinson; "there's nothing like colour. +We'll call it Magenta House, and we'll paint it magenta from the roof +to the window tops." + +This beautiful tint had only then been invented, and it was necessary +to explain the word to Mr. Brown. He merely remarked that the oil and +paint would come to a deal of money, and then gave way. Jones was +struck dumb by the brilliancy of the idea, and for once forgot to +object. + +"And, I'll tell you what," said Robinson--"nine times nine is +eighty-one." + +"Certainly, certainly," said Mr. Brown, who delighted to agree +with his younger partner when circumstances admitted it. "You are +right there, certainly." Jones was observed to go through the +multiplication table mentally, but he could detect no error. + +"Nine times nine is eighty-one," repeated Robinson with confidence, +"and we'll put that fact up over the first-floor windows." + +And so they did. The house was painted magenta colour from top to +bottom. And on the front in very large figures and letters, was +stated the undoubted fact that nine times nine is 81. "If they +will only call us 'The nine times nine,' the thing is done," said +Robinson. Nevertheless, the house was christened Magenta House. "And +now about glass," said Robinson, when the three had retired to the +little back room within. + +Mr. Robinson, however, admitted afterwards that he was wrong about +the colour and the number. Such methods of obtaining attention +were, he said, too easy of imitation, and devoid of any inherent +attraction of their own. People would not care for nine times nine in +Bishopsgate Street, if there were nine times nines in other streets +as well. "No," said he; "I was but beginning, and made errors as +beginners do. Outside there should be glass, gas, gold, and glare. +Inside there should be the same, with plenty of brass, and if +possible a little wit. If those won't do it, nothing will." All +the same the magenta colour and the nine times nine did have their +effect. "Nine times nine is eighty-one," was printed on the top of +all the flying advertisements issued by the firm, and the printing +was all done in magenta. + +Mr. Brown groaned sorely over the expenditure that was necessary in +preparation of the premises. His wish was that this should be paid +for in ready money; and indeed it was necessary that this should +be done to a certain extent. But the great object should have been +to retain every available shilling for advertisements. In the way +of absolute capital,--money to be paid for stock,--4,000_l._ was +nothing. But 4,000_l._ scattered broadcast through the metropolis on +walls, omnibuses, railway stations, little books, pavement chalkings, +illuminated notices, porters' backs, gilded cars, and men in armour, +would have driven nine times nine into the memory of half the +inhabitants of London. The men in armour were tried. Four suits were +obtained in Poland Street, and four strong men were hired who rode +about town all day on four brewers' horses. They carried poles with +large banners, and on the banners were inscribed the words which +formed the shibboleth of the firm;-- + + + _MAGENTA HOUSE_, + 9 TIMES 9 IS 81, + BISHOPSGATE STREET. + + +And four times a day these four men in armour met each other in front +of the windows of the house, and stood there on horseback for fifteen +minutes, with their backs to the curbstone. The forage, however, of +the horses became so terribly large an item of expenditure that Mr. +Brown's heart failed him. His heart failed him, and he himself went +off late one evening to the livery stable-keeper who supplied the +horses, and in Mr. Robinson's absence, the armour was sent back to +Poland Street. + +"We should have had the police down upon us, George," said Mr. Brown, +deprecating the anger of his younger partner. + +"And what better advertisement could you have wished?" said Robinson. +"It would have been in all the papers, and have cost nothing." + +"But you don't know, George, what them beastesses was eating! It +was frightful to hear of! Four-and-twenty pounds of corn a day +each of 'em, because the armour was so uncommon heavy." The men in +armour were then given up, but they certainly were beginning to +be effective. At 6 P.M., when the men were there, it had become +impossible to pass the shop without going into the middle of the +street, and on one or two occasions the policemen had spoken to +Mr. Brown. Then there was a slight accident with a child, and the +newspapers had interfered. + +But we are anticipating the story, for the men in armour did not +begin their operations till the shop had been opened. + +"And now about glass," said Robinson, as soon as the three partners +had retired from the outside flags into the interior of the house. + +"It must be plate, of course," said Jones. Plate! He might as well +have said when wanting a house, that it must have walls. + +"I rather think so," said Robinson; "and a good deal of it." + +"I don't mind a good-sized common window," said Brown. + +"A deal better have them uncommon," said Robinson, interrupting him. +"And remember, sir, there's nothing like glass in these days. It has +superseded leather altogether in that respect." + +"Leather!" said Mr. Brown, who was hardly quick enough for his junior +partner. + +"Of all our materials now in general use," said Robinson, "glass +is the most brilliant, and yet the cheapest; the most graceful and +yet the strongest. Though transparent it is impervious to wet. The +eye travels through it, but not the hailstorm. To the power of +gas it affords no obstacle, but is as efficient a barrier against +the casualties of the street as an iron shutter. To that which is +ordinary it lends a grace; and to that which is graceful it gives a +double lustre. Like a good advertisement, it multiplies your stock +tenfold, and like a good servant, it is always eloquent in praise of +its owner. I look upon plate glass, sir, as the most glorious product +of the age; and I regard the tradesman who can surround himself with +the greatest quantity of it, as the most in advance of the tradesmen +of his day. Oh, sir, whatever we do, let us have glass." + +"It's beautiful to hear him talk," said Mr. Brown; "but it's the bill +I'm a thinking of." + +"If you will only go enough ahead, Mr. Brown, you'll find that nobody +will trouble you with such bills." + +"But they must be paid some day, George." + +"Of course they must; but it will never do to think of that now. +In twelve months or so, when we have set the house well going, the +payment of such bills as that will be a mere nothing,--a thing that +will be passed as an item not worth notice. Faint heart never won +fair lady, you know, Mr. Brown." And then a cloud came across George +Robinson's brow as he thought of the words he had spoken; for his +heart had once been faint, and his fair lady was by no means won. + +"That's quite true," said Jones; "it never does. Ha! ha! ha!" + +Then the cloud went away from George Robinson's brow, and a stern +frown of settled resolution took its place. At that moment he made up +his mind, that when he might again meet that giant butcher he would +forget the difference in their size, and accost him as though they +two were equal. What though some fell blow, levelled as at an ox, +should lay him low for ever. Better that, than endure from day to day +the unanswered taunts of such a one as Jones! + +Mr. Brown, though he was not quick-witted, was not deficient when the +feelings of man and man were concerned. He understood it all, and +taking advantage of a moment when Jones had stepped up the shop, he +pressed Robinson's hand and said,--"You shall have her, George. If +a father's word is worth anything, you shall have her." But in this +case,--as in so many others,--a father's word was not worth anything. + +"But to business!" said Robinson, shaking off from him all thoughts +of love. + +After that Mr. Brown had not the heart to oppose him respecting the +glass, and in that matter he had everything nearly his own way. The +premises stood advantageously at the comer of a little alley, so that +the window was made to jut out sideways in that direction, and a +full foot and a half was gained. On the other side the house did not +stand flush with its neighbour,--as is not unfrequently the case in +Bishopsgate Street,--and here also a few inches were made available. +The next neighbour, a quiet old man who sold sticks, threatened a +lawsuit; but that, had it been instituted, would have got into the +newspapers and been an advertisement. There was considerable trouble +about the entrance. A wide, commanding centre doorway was essential; +but this, if made in the desirable proportions, would have terribly +crippled the side windows. To obviate this difficulty, the exterior +space allotted for the entrance between the frontage of the two +windows was broad and noble, but the glass splayed inwards towards +the shop, so that the absolute door was decidedly narrow. + +"When we come to have a crowd, they won't get in and out," said +Jones. + +"If we could only crush a few to death in the doorway our fortune +would be made," said Robinson. + +"God forbid!" said Mr. Brown; "God forbid! Let us have no bloodshed, +whatever we do." + +In about a month the house was completed, and much to the regret of +both the junior partners, a considerable sum of ready money was paid +to the tradesmen who performed the work. Mr. Jones was of opinion +that by sufficient cunning such payments might be altogether evaded. +No such thought rested for a moment in the bosom of Mr. Robinson. All +tradesmen should be paid, and paid well. But the great firm of Brown, +Jones, and Robinson would be much less likely to scrutinize the price +at which plate glass was charged to them per square foot, when they +were taking their hundreds a day over the counter, than they would be +now when every shilling was of importance to them. + +"For their own sake you shouldn't do it," said he to Mr. Brown. "You +may be quite sure they don't like it." + +"I always liked it myself," said Mr. Brown. And thus he would make +little dribbling payments, by which an unfortunate idea was generated +in the neighbourhood that money was not plentiful with the firm. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE DIVISION OF LABOUR. + + +There were two other chief matters to which it was now necessary that +the Firm should attend; the first and primary being the stock of +advertisements which should be issued; and the other, or secondary, +being the stock of goods which should be obtained to answer the +expectations raised by those advertisements. + +"But, George, we must have something to sell," said Mr. Brown, almost +in despair. He did not then understand, and never since has learned +the secrets of that commercial science which his younger partner was +at so much pains to teach. There are things which no elderly man can +learn; and there are lessons which are full of light for the new +recruit, but dark as death to the old veteran. + +"It will be so doubtless with me also," said Robinson, soliloquizing +on the subject in his melancholy mood. "The day will come when I too +must be pushed from my stool by the workings of younger genius, and +shall sink, as poor Mr. Brown is now sinking, into the foggy depths +of fogeydom. But a man who is a man--" and then that melancholy mood +left him, "can surely make his fortune before that day comes. When +a merchant is known to be worth half a million, his fogeydom is +respected." + +That necessity of having something to sell almost overcame Mr. Brown +in those days. "What's the good of putting down 5,000 Kolinski +and Minx Boas in the bill, if we don't possess one in the shop?" +he asked; "we must have some if they're asked for." He could not +understand that for a first start effect is everything. If customers +should want Kolinski Boas, Kolinski Boas would of course be +forthcoming,--to any number required; either Kolinski Boas, or quasi +Kolinski, which in trade is admitted to be the same thing. When a man +advertises that he has 40,000 new paletots, he does not mean that he +has got that number packed up in a box. If required to do so, he will +supply them to that extent,--or to any further extent. A long row +of figures in trade is but an elegant use of the superlative. If a +tradesman can induce a lady to buy a diagonal Osnabruck cashmere +shawl by telling her that he has 1,200 of them, who is injured? And +if the shawl is not exactly a real diagonal Osnabruck cashmere, what +harm is done as long as the lady gets the value for her money? And if +she don't get the value for her money, whose fault is that? Isn't it +a fair stand-up fight? And when she tries to buy for 4_l._, a shawl +which she thinks is worth about 8_l._, isn't she dealing on the same +principles herself? If she be lucky enough to possess credit, the +shawl is sent home without payment, and three years afterwards fifty +per cent. is perhaps offered for settlement of the bill. It is a fair +fight, and the ladies are very well able to take care of themselves. + +And Jones also thought they must have something to sell. "Money is +money," said he, "and goods is goods. What's the use of windows if we +haven't anything to dress them? And what's the use of capital unless +we buy a stock?" + +With Mr. Jones, George Robinson never cared to argue. The absolute +impossibility of pouring the slightest ray of commercial light into +the dim chaos of that murky mind had long since come home to him. He +merely shook his head, and went on with the composition on which he +was engaged. It need hardly be explained here that he had no idea +of encountering the public throng on their opening day, without an +adequate assortment of goods. Of course there must be shawls and +cloaks; of course there must be muffs and boas; of course there must +be hose and handkerchiefs. That dressing of the windows was to be the +special care of Mr. Jones, and Robinson would take care that there +should be the wherewithal. The dressing of the windows, and the +parading of the shop, was to be the work of Jones. His ambition had +never soared above that, and while serving in the house on Snow +Hill, his utmost envy had been excited by the youthful aspirant who +there walked the boards, and with an oily courtesy handed chairs to +the ladies. For one short week he had been allowed to enter this +Paradise. "And though I looked so sweet on them," said he, "I always +had my eye on them. It's a grand thing to be down on a well-dressed +woman as she's hiding a roll of ribbon under her cloak." That was his +idea of grandeur! + +A stock of goods was of course necessary, but if the firm could +only get their name sufficiently established, that matter would be +arranged simply by written orders to two or three wholesale houses. +Competition, that beautiful science of the present day, by which +every plodding cart-horse is converted into a racer, makes this easy +enough. When it should once become known that a firm was opening +itself on a great scale in a good thoroughfare, and advertising on +real, intelligible principles, there would be no lack of goods. + +"You can have any amount of hose you want, out of Cannon Street," +said Mr. Robinson, "in forty-five minutes. They can be brought in at +the back while you are selling them over the counter." + +"Can they?" said Mr. Brown: "perhaps they can. But nevertheless, +George, I think I'll buy a few. It'll be an ease to my mind." + +He did so; but it was a suicidal act on his part. One thing was quite +clear, even to Mr. Jones. If the firm commenced business to the +extent which they contemplated, it was out of the question that +they should do everything on the ready-money principle. That such a +principle is antiquated, absurd, and uncommercial; that it is opposed +to the whole system of trade as now adopted in this metropolis, +has been clearly shown in the preface to these memoirs. But in +this instance, in the case of Brown, Jones, and Robinson, the +doing so was as impracticable as it would have been foolish, if +practicable. Credit and credit only was required. But of all modes of +extinguishing credit, of crushing, as it were, the young baby in its +cradle, there is none equal to that of spending a little ready money, +and then halting. In trade as in love, to doubt,--or rather, to seem +to doubt,--is to be lost. When you order goods, do so as though the +bank were at your back. Look your victim full in the face, and write +down your long numbers without a falter in your pen. And should there +seem a hesitation on his part, do not affect to understand it. When +the articles are secured, you give your bill at six months' date; +then your credit at your bankers,--your discount system,--commences. +That is another affair. When once your bank begins that with +you,--and the banks must do so, or they may put up their +shutters,--when once your bank has commenced, it must carry on the +game. You are floated then, placed well in the centre of the full +stream of commerce, and it must be your own fault if you do not +either retire with half a million, or become bankrupt with an eclat, +which is worth more than any capital in refitting you for a further +attempt. In the meantime it need hardly be said that you yourself are +living on the very fat of the land. + +But birds of a feather should flock together, and Mr. Brown and Mr. +Robinson were not exactly of the same plumage. + +It was finally arranged that Mr. Robinson should have carte blanche +at his own particular line of business, to the extent of fifteen +hundred pounds, and that Mr. Brown should go into the warehouse and +lay out a similar sum in goods. Both Jones and Mrs. Jones accompanied +the old man, and a sore time he had of it. It may here be remarked +that Mrs. Jones struggled very hard to get a footing in the shop, but +on this point it should be acknowledged that her husband did his duty +for a while. + +"It must be you or I, Sarah Jane," said he; "but not both." + +"I have no objection in life," said she; "you can stay at home, if +you please." + +"By no means," he replied. "If you come here, and your father permits +it, I shall go to America. Of course the firm will allow me for my +share." She tried it on very often after that, and gave the firm much +trouble, but I don't think she got her hand into the cash drawer +above once or twice during the first twelve months. + +The division of labour was finally arranged as follows. Mr. Brown +was to order the goods; to hire the young men and women, look after +their morality, and pay them their wages; to listen to any special +applications when a desire might be expressed to see the firm; and +to do the heavy respectable parental business. There was a little +back room with a sky-light, in which he was to sit; and when he was +properly got up, his manner of shaking his head at the young people +who misbehaved themselves, was not ineffective. There is always +danger when young men and women are employed together in the same +shop, and if possible this should be avoided. It is not in human +nature that they should not fall in love, or at any rate amuse +themselves with ordinary flirtations. Now the rule is that not a word +shall be spoken that does not refer to business. "Miss O'Brien, where +is the salmon-coloured sarsenet? or, Mr. Green, I'll trouble you for +the ladies' sevens." Nothing is ever spoken beyond that. "Morals, +morals, above everything!" Mr. Brown was once heard to shout from his +little room, when a whisper had been going round the shop as to a +concerted visit to the Crystal Palace. Why a visit to the Crystal +Palace should be immoral, when talked of over the counter, Mr. Brown +did not explain on that occasion. + +"A very nice set of young women," the compiler of these memoirs once +remarked to a commercial gentleman in a large way, who was showing +him over his business, "and for the most part very good-looking." + +"Yes, sir, yes; we attend to their morals especially. They generally +marry from us, and become the happy mothers of families." + +"Ah," said I, really delighted in my innocence. "They've excellent +opportunities for that, because there are so many decent young men +about." + +He turned on me as though I had calumniated his establishment with a +libel of the vilest description. "If a whisper of such a thing ever +reaches us, sir," said he, quite alive with virtuous indignation; +"if such a suspicion is ever engendered, we send them packing at +once! The morals of our young women, sir--" And then he finished his +sentence simply by a shake of his head. I tried to bring him into an +argument, and endeavoured to make him understand that no young woman +can become a happy wife unless she first be allowed to have a lover. +He merely shook his head, and at last stamped his foot. "Morals, +sir!" he repeated. "Morals above everything. In such an establishment +as this, if we are not moral, we are nothing." I supposed he was +right, but it seemed to me to be very hard on the young men and +women. I could only hope that they walked home together in the +evening. + +In the new firm in Bishopsgate Street, Mr. Brown, of course, took +upon himself that branch of business, and some little trouble he +had, because his own son-in-law and partner would make eyes to the +customers. + +"Mr. Jones," he once said before them all; "you'll bring down my gray +hairs with sorrow to the grave; you will, indeed." And then he put up +his fat hand, and gently stroked the white expanse of his bald pate. +But that was a very memorable occasion. + +Such was Mr. Brown's business. To Mr. Jones was allocated the +duty of seeing that the shop was duly dressed, of looking after +the customers, including that special duty of guarding against +shop-lifting, and of attending generally to the retail business. It +cannot be denied that for this sort of work he had some specialties. +His eye was sharp, and his ear was keen, and his feelings were blunt. +In a certain way, he was good-looking, and he knew how to hand +a chair with a bow and smile, which went far with the wives and +daughters of the East End little tradesmen,--and he was active enough +at his work. He was usually to be seen standing in the front of the +shop, about six yards within the door, rubbing his hands together, or +arranging his locks, or twiddling with his brass watch-chain. Nothing +disconcerted him, unless his wife walked into the place; and then, +to the great delight of the young men and women, he was unable to +conceal his misery. By them he was hated,--as was perhaps necessary +in his position. He was a tyrant, who liked to feel at every moment +the relish of his power. To the poor girls he was cruel, treating +them as though they were dirt beneath his feet. For Mr. Jones, though +he affected the reputation of an admirer of the fair sex, never +forgot himself by being even civil to a female who was his paid +servant. Woman's smile had a charm for him, but no charm equal to the +servility of dependence. + +But on the shoulders of Mr. Robinson fell the great burden of the +business. There was a question as to the accounts; these, however, he +undertook to keep in his leisure moments, thinking but little of the +task. But the work of his life was to be the advertising department. +He was to draw up the posters; he was to write those little books +which, printed on magenta-coloured paper, were to be thrown with +reckless prodigality into every vehicle in the town; he was to +arrange new methods of alluring the public into that emporium of +fashion. It was for him to make a credulous multitude believe that +at that shop, number Nine Times Nine in Bishopsgate Street, goods of +all sorts were to be purchased at prices considerably less than the +original cost of their manufacture. This he undertook to do; this for +a time he did do; this for years to come he would have done, had he +not experienced an interference in his own department, by which the +whole firm was ultimately ruined and sent adrift. + +"The great thing is to get our bills into the hands of the public," +said Robinson. + +"You can get men for one and nine a day to stand still and hand 'em +out to the passers-by," said Mr. Brown. + +"That's stale, sir, quite stale; novelty in advertising is what we +require;--something new and startling." + +"Put a chimney-pot on the man's head," said Mr. Brown, "and make it +two and three." + +"That's been tried," said Robinson. + +"Then put two chimney-pots," said Mr. Brown. Beyond that his +imagination did not carry him. + +Chimney-pots and lanterns on men's heads avail nothing. To startle +men and women to any purpose, and drive them into Bishopsgate Street, +you must startle them a great deal. It does not suffice to create a +momentary wonder. Mr. Robinson, therefore, began with eight footmen +in full livery, with powdered hair and gold tags to their shoulders. +They had magenta-coloured plush knee-breeches, and magenta-coloured +silk stockings. It was in May, and the weather was fine, and these +eight excellently got-up London footmen were stationed at different +points in the city, each with a silken bag suspended round his +shoulder by a silken cord. From these bags they drew forth the +advertising cards of the house, and presented them to such of the +passers-by as appeared from their dress and physiognomy to be +available for the purpose. The fact has now been ascertained that +men and women who have money to spend will not put out their hands +to accept common bills from street advertisers. In an ordinary way +the money so spent is thrown away. But from these men, arrayed in +gorgeous livery, a duchess would have stayed her steps to accept a +card. And duchesses did stay their steps, and cards from the young +firm of Brown, Jones, and Robinson were, as the firm was credibly +informed, placed beneath the eyes of a very illustrious personage +indeed. + +The nature of the card was this. It was folded into three, and when +so folded, was of the size of an ordinary playing card. On the +outside, which bore a satin glaze with a magenta tint, there was a +blank space as though for an address, and the compliments of the firm +in the corner; when opened there was a separate note inside, in which +the public were informed in very few words, that "Messrs. Brown, +Jones, and Robinson were prepared to open their house on the 15th +of May, intending to carry on their trade on principles of commerce +perfectly new, and hitherto untried. The present rate of money in the +city was five per cent., and it would be the practice of the firm to +charge five and a half per cent. on every article sold by them. The +very quick return which this would give them, would enable B. J. and +R. to realize princely fortunes, and at the same time to place within +the reach of the public goods of the very best description at prices +much below any that had ever yet been quoted." This also was printed +on magenta-coloured paper, and "nine times nine is eighty-one" was +inserted both at the top and the bottom. + +On the inside of the card, on the three folds, were printed lists of +the goods offered to the public. The three headings were "cloaks and +shawls," "furs and velvets," "silks and satins;" and in a small note +at the bottom it was stated that the stock of hosiery, handkerchiefs, +ribbons, and gloves, was sufficient to meet any demand which the +metropolis could make upon the firm. + +When that list was first read out in conclave to the partners, +Mr. Brown begged almost with tears in his eyes, that it might be +modified. "George," said he, "we shall be exposed." + +"I hope we shall," said Robinson. "Exposition is all that we desire." + +"Eight thousand African monkey muffs! Oh, George, you must leave out +the monkey muffs." + +"By no means, Mr. Brown." + +"Or bring them down to a few hundreds. Two hundred African monkey +muffs would really be a great many." + +"Mr. Brown," said Robinson on that occasion;--and it may be doubted +whether he ever again spoke to the senior partner of his firm in +terms so imperious and decisive; "Mr. Brown, to you has been allotted +your share in our work, and when you insisted on throwing away our +ready money on those cheap Manchester prints, I never said a word. It +lay in your department to do so. The composition of this card lies in +mine, and I mean to exercise my own judgment." And then he went on, +"Eight thousand real African monkey muffs; six thousand ditto, ditto, +ditto, very superior, with long fine hair." Mr. Brown merely groaned, +but he said nothing further. + +"Couldn't you say that they are such as are worn by the Princess +Alice?" suggested Jones. + +"No, I could not," answered Robinson. "You may tell them that in the +shop if you please. That will lie in your department." + +In this way was the first card of the firm drawn out, and in the +space of a fortnight, nineteen thousand of them were disseminated +through the metropolis. When it is declared that each of those cards +cost B. J. and R. threepence three farthings, some idea may be formed +of the style in which they commenced their operations. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +IT IS OUR OPENING DAY. + + +And now the day had arrived on which the firm was to try the result +of their efforts. It is believed that the 15th of May in that year +will not easily be forgotten in the neighbourhood of Bishopsgate +Street. It was on this day that the experiment of the men in armour +was first tried, and the four cavaliers, all mounted and polished as +bright as brass, were stationed in the front of the house by nine +o'clock. There they remained till the doors and shop windows were +opened, which ceremony actually took place at twelve. It had been +stated to the town on the preceding day by a man dressed as Fame, +with a long horn, who had been driven about in a gilt car, that this +would be done at ten. But peeping through the iron shutters at that +hour, the gentlemen of the firm saw that the crowd was as yet by no +means great. So a huge poster was put up outside each window:-- + + + POSTPONED TILL ELEVEN. + IMMENSE PRESSURE OF GOODS IN THE BACK PREMISES. + + +At eleven this was done again; but at twelve the house was really +opened. At that time the car with Fame and the long horn was +stationed in front of the men in armour, and there really was a +considerable concourse of people. + +"This won't do, Mr. Brown," a policeman had said. "The people are +half across the street." + +"Success! success!" shouted Mr. Robinson, from the first landing on +the stairs. He was busy correcting the proofs of their second set of +notices to the public. + +"Shall we open, George?" whispered Mr. Brown, who was rather +flurried. + +"Yes; you may as well begin," said he. "It must be done sooner or +later." And then he retired quietly to his work. He had allowed +himself to be elated for one moment at the interference of the +police, but after that he remained above, absorbed in his work; or if +not so absorbed, disdaining to mix with the crowd below. For there, +in the centre of the shop, leaning on the arm of Mr. William Brisket, +stood Maryanne Brown. + +As regards grouping, there was certainly some propriety in the +arrangements made for receiving the public. When the iron shutters +were wound up, the young men of the establishment stood in a row +behind one of the counters, and the young women behind the other. +They were very nicely got up for the occasion. The girls were all +decorated with magenta-coloured ribbons, and the young men with +magenta neckties. Mr. Jones had been very anxious to charge them +for these articles in their wages, but Mr. Brown's good feeling had +prevented this. "No, Jones, no; the master always finds the livery." +There had been something in the words, master and livery, which +had tickled the ears of his son-in-law, and so the matter had been +allowed to pass by. + +In the centre of the shop stood Mr. Brown, very nicely dressed in +a new suit of black. That bald head of his, and the way he had +of rubbing his hands together, were not ill-calculated to create +respect. But on such occasions it was always necessary to induce him +to hold his tongue. Mr. Brown never spoke effectively unless he had +been first moved almost to tears. It was now his special business +to smile, and he did smile. On his right hand stood his partner +and son-in-law Jones, mounted quite irrespectively of expense. His +waistcoat and cravat may be said to have been gorgeous, and from his +silky locks there came distilled a mixed odour of musk and patchouli. +About his neck also the colours of the house were displayed, and in +his hand he waved a magenta handkerchief. His wife was leaning on his +arm, and on such an occasion as this even Robinson had consented to +her presence. She was dressed from head to foot in magenta. She wore +a magenta bonnet, and magenta stockings, and it was said of her that +she was very careful to allow the latter article to be seen. The +only beauty of which Sarah Jane could boast, rested in her feet and +ankles. + +But on the other side of Mr. Brown stood a pair, for whose presence +there George Robinson had not expressed his approbation, and as to +one of whom it may be said that better taste would have been shown on +all sides had he not thus intruded himself. Mr. Brisket had none of +the rights of proprietorship in that house, nor would it be possible +that he should have as long as the name of the firm contained within +itself that of Mr. Robinson. Had Brown, Jones, and Brisket agreed +to open shop together, it would have been well for Brisket to stand +there with that magenta shawl round his neck, and waving that magenta +towel in his hand. But as it was, what business had he there? + +"What business has he there? Ah, tell me that; what business has he +there?" said Robinson to himself, as he sat moodily in the small back +room upstairs. "Ah, tell me that, what business has he here? Did +not the old man promise that she should be mine? Is it for him that +I have done all; for him that I have collected the eager crowd of +purchasers that throng the hall of commerce below, which my taste has +decorated? Or for her--? Have I done this for her,--the false one? +But what recks it? She shall live to know that had she been constant +to me she might have sat--almost upon a throne!" And then he rushed +again to his work, and with eager pen struck off those well-known +lines about the house which some short time after ravished the ears +of the metropolis. + +In a following chapter of these memoirs it will be necessary to +go back for a while to the domestic life of some of the persons +concerned, and the fact of Mr. Brisket's presence at the opening of +the house will then be explained. In the meantime the gentle reader +is entreated to take it for granted that Mr. William Brisket was +actually there, standing on the left hand of Mr. Brown, waving high +above his head a huge magenta cotton handkerchief, and that on his +other arm was hanging Maryanne Brown, leaning quite as closely upon +him as her sister did upon the support which was her own. For one +moment George Robinson allowed himself to look down upon the scene, +and he plainly saw that clutch of the hand upon the sleeve. "Big as +he is," said Robinson to himself, "pistols would make us equal. But +the huge ox has no sense of chivalry." + +It was unfortunate for the future intrinsic comfort of the firm that +that member of it who was certainly not the least enterprising should +have found himself unable to join in the ceremony of opening the +house; but, nevertheless, it must be admitted that that ceremony was +imposing. Maryanne Brown was looking her best, and dressed as she was +in the correctest taste of the day, wearing of course the colours of +the house, it was not unnatural that all eyes should be turned on +her. "What a big man that Robinson is!" some one in the crowd was +heard to observe. Yes; that huge lump of human clay that called +itself William Brisket, the butcher of Aldersgate Street, was +actually taken on that occasion for the soul, and life, and salt of +an advertising house. Of Mr. William Brisket, it may here be said, +that he had no other idea of trade than that of selling at so much +per pound the beef which he had slaughtered with his own hands. + +But that ceremony was imposing. "Ladies and gentlemen," said those +five there assembled--speaking as it were with one voice,--"we bid +you welcome to Magenta House. Nine times nine is eighty-one. Never +forget that." Robinson had planned the words, but he was not there to +assist at their utterance! "Ladies and gentlemen, again we bid you +welcome to Magenta House." And then they retired backwards down the +shop, allowing the crowd to press forward, and all packed themselves +for awhile into Mr. Brown's little room at the back. + +"It was smart," said Mr. Brisket. + +"And went off uncommon well," said Jones, shaking the scent from his +head. "All the better, too, because that chap wasn't here." + +"He's a clever fellow," said Brisket. + +"And you shouldn't speak against him behind his back, Jones. Who did +it all? And who couldn't have done it if he hadn't been here?" When +these words were afterwards told to George Robinson, he forgave Mr. +Brown a great deal. + +The architect, acting under the direction of Mr. Robinson, had +contrived to arch the roof, supporting it on five semicircular iron +girders, which were left there visible to the eye, and which were of +course painted magenta. On the foremost of these was displayed the +name of the firm,--Brown, Jones, and Robinson. On the second, the +name of the house,--Magenta House. On the third the number,--Nine +times nine is eighty one. On the fourth, an edict of trade +against which retail houses in the haberdashery line should never +sin,--"Terms: Ready cash." And on the last, the special principle of +our trade,--"Five-and-a-half per cent. profit." The back of the shop +was closed in with magenta curtains, through which the bald head of +Mr. Brown would not unfrequently be seen to emerge; and on each side +of the curtains there stood a tall mirror, reaching up to the very +ceiling. Upon the whole, the thing certainly was well done. + +"But the contractor,"--the man who did the work was called the +contractor,--"the contractor says that he will want the rest of his +money in two months," said Mr. Brown, whining. + +"He would not have wanted any for the next twelve months," answered +Robinson, "if you had not insisted on paying him those few hundreds." + +"You can find fault with the bill, you know," said Jones, "and delay +it almost any time by threatening him with a lawyer." + +"And then he will put a distress on us," said Mr. Brown. + +"And after that will be very happy to take our bill at six months," +answered Robinson. And so that matter was ended for the time. + +Those men in armour stood there the whole of that day, and Fame +in his gilded car used his trumpet up and down Bishopsgate Street +with such effect, that the people living on each side of the street +became very sick of him. Fame himself was well acted,--at 16_s._ +the day,--and when the triumphal car remained still, stood balanced +on one leg, with the other stretched out behind, in a manner that +riveted attention. But no doubt his horn was badly chosen. Mr. +Robinson insisted on a long single-tubed instrument, saying that it +was classical; but a cornet a piston would have given more pleasure. + +A good deal of money was taken on that day; but certainly not so much +as had been anticipated. Very many articles were asked for, looked +at, and then not purchased. But this, though it occasioned grief to +Mr. Brown, was really not of much moment. That the thing should be +talked of,--if possible mentioned in the newspapers--was the object +of the firm. + +"I would give my bond for 2,000_l._," said Robinson, "to get a leader +in the Jupiter." + +The first article demanded over the counter was a real African monkey +muff, very superior, with long fine hair. + +"The ships which are bringing them have not yet arrived from the +coast," answered Jones, who luckily stepped up at the moment. "They +are expected in the docks to-morrow." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +MISS BROWN PLEADS HER OWN CASE, AND MR. ROBINSON WALKS ON BLACKFRIARS +BRIDGE. + + +At the time of Mrs. McCockerell's death Robinson and Maryanne Brown +were not on comfortable terms with each other. She had twitted him +with being remiss in asserting his own rights in the presence of his +rival, and he had accused her of being fickle, if not actually false. + +"I shall be just as fickle as I please," she said. "If it suits me +I'll have nine to follow me; but there shan't be one of the nine who +won't hold up his head and look after his own." + +"Your conduct, Maryanne--." + +"George, I won't be scolded, and that you ought to know. If you don't +like me, you are quite welcome to do the other thing." And then they +parted. This took place after Mr. Brown's adherence to the Robinson +interest, and while Brisket was waiting passively to see if that five +hundred pounds would be forthcoming. + +Their next meeting was in the presence of Mr. Brown; and on that +occasion all the three spoke out their intentions on the subject of +their future family arrangements, certainly with much plain language, +if not on every side with positive truth. Mr. Robinson was at the +house in Smithfield, giving counsel to old Mr. Brown as to the +contest which was then being urged between him and his son-in-law. +At that period the two sisters conceived that their joint pecuniary +interests required that they should act together; and it must be +acknowledged that they led poor Mr. Brown a sad life of it. He and +Robinson were sitting upstairs in the little back room looking out +into Spavinhorse Yard, when Maryanne abruptly broke in upon them. + +"Father," she said, standing upright in the middle of the room before +them, "I have come to know what it is that you mean to do?" + +"To do, my dear?" said old Mr. Brown. + +"Yes; to do. I suppose something is to be done some day. We ain't +always to go on shilly-shallying, spending the money, and ruining the +business, and living from hand to mouth, as though there was no end +to anything. I've got myself to look to, and I don't mean to go into +the workhouse if I can help it!" + +"The workhouse, Maryanne!" + +"I said the workhouse, father, and I meant it. If everybody had what +was justly their own, I shouldn't have to talk in that way. But as +far as I can see, them sharks, the lawyers, will have it all. Now, +I'll tell you what it is--" + +Hitherto Robinson had not said a word; but at this moment he thought +it right to interfere. "Maryanne!" he said,--and, in pronouncing the +well-loved name, he threw into it all the affection of which his +voice was capable,--"Maryanne!" + +"'Miss Brown' would be a deal properer, and also much more pleasing, +if it's all the same to you, sir!" + +How often had he whispered "Maryanne" into her ears, and the dear +girl had smiled upon him to hear herself so called! But he could +not remind her of this at the present moment. "I have your father's +sanction," said he-- + +"My father is nothing to me,--not with reference to what young man I +let myself be called 'Maryanne' by. And going on as he is going on, I +don't suppose that he'll long be much to me in any way." + +"Oh, Maryanne!" sobbed the unhappy parent. + +"That's all very well, sir, but it won't keep the kettle a-boiling!" + +"As long as I have a bit to eat of, Maryanne, and a cup to drink of, +you shall have the half." + +"And what am I to do when you won't have neither a bit nor a cup? +That's what you're coming to, father. We can all see that. What's the +use of all them lawyers?" + +"That's Jones's doing," said Robinson. + +"No; it isn't Jones's doing. And of course Jones must look after +himself. I'm not partial to Jones. Everybody knows that. When Sarah +Jane disgraced herself, and went off with him, I never said a word in +her favour. It wasn't I who brought a viper into the house and warmed +it in my bosom." It was at this moment that Jones was behaving with +the most barefaced effrontery, as well as the utmost cruelty, towards +the old man, and Maryanne's words cut her father to the very soul. +"Jones might have been anywhere for me," she continued; "but there he +is downstairs, and Sarah Jane is with him. Of course they are looking +for their own." + +"And what is it you want, Maryanne?" + +"Well; I'll tell you what I want. My dear sainted mother's last wish +was that--I should become Mrs. Brisket!" + +"And do you mean to say," said Robinson--"do you mean to say that +that is now your wish?" And he looked at her till the audacity even +of her eyes sank beneath the earnestness of his own. But though for +the moment he quelled her eye, nothing could quell her voice. + +"I mean to say," said she, speaking loudly, and with her arms akimbo, +"that William Brisket is a very respectable young man, with a +trade,--that he's got a decent house for a young woman to live in, +and a decent table for her to sit at. And he's always been brought +up decent, having been a regular 'prentice to his uncle, and all +that sort of thing. He's never been wandering about like a vagrant, +getting his money nobody knows how. William Brisket's as well known +in Aldersgate Street as the Post Office. And moreover," she added, +after a pause, speaking these last words in a somewhat milder +breath--"And moreover, it was my sainted mother's wish!" + +"Then go to him!" said Robinson, rising suddenly, and stretching out +his arm against her. "Go to him, and perform your--sainted mother's +wish! Go to the--butcher! Revel in his shambles, and grow fat and +sleek in his slaughter-house! From this moment George Robinson will +fight the world alone. Brisket, indeed! If it be accounted manliness +to have killed hecatombs of oxen, let him be called manly!" + +"He would have pretty nigh killed you, young man, on one occasion, if +you hadn't made yourself scarce." + +"By heavens!" exclaimed Robinson, "if he'll come forth, I'll fight +him to-morrow;--with cleavers, if he will!" + +"George, George, don't say that," exclaimed Mr. Brown. "'Let dogs +delight to bark and bite.'" + +"You needn't be afraid," said Maryanne. "He doesn't mean fighting," +and she pointed to Robinson. "William would about eat him, you know, +if they were to come together." + +"Heaven forbid!" said Mr. Brown. + +"But what I want to know is this," continued the maiden; "how is it +to be about that five hundred pounds which my mother left me?" + +"But, my dear, your mother had not five hundred pounds to leave." + +"Nor did she make any will if she had," said Robinson. + +"Now don't put in your oar, for I won't have it," said the lady. "And +you'd show a deal more correct feeling if you wasn't so much about +the house just at present. My darling mamma,"--and then she put her +handkerchief up to her eyes--"always told William that when he and I +became one, there should be five hundred pounds down;--and of course +he expects it. Now, sir, you often talk about your love for your +children." + +"I do love them; so I do. What else have I?" + +"Now's the time to prove it. Let me have that sum of five hundred +pounds, and I will always take your part against the Joneses. Five +hundred pounds isn't so much,--and surely I have a right to some +share. And you may be sure of this; when we're settled, Brisket is +not the man to come back to you for more, as some would do." And then +she gave another look at Robinson. + +"I haven't got the money; have I, George?" said the father. + +"That question I cannot answer," replied Robinson. "Nor can I say how +far it might be prudent in you to debar yourself from all further +progress in commerce if you have got it. But this I can say; do not +let any consideration for me prevent you from giving a dowry with +your daughter to Mr. Brisket; if she loves him--" + +"Oh, it's all bother about love," said she; "men and women must eat, +and they must have something to give their children, when they come." + +"But if I haven't got it, my dear?" + +"That's nonsense, father. Where has the money gone to? Whatever you +do, speak the truth. If you choose to say you won't--" + +"Well, then, I won't," said he, roused suddenly to anger. "I never +made Brisket any promise!" + +"But mother did; she as is now gone, and far away; and it was her +money,--so it was." + +"It wasn't her money;--it was mine!" said Mr. Brown. + +"And that's all the answer I'm to get? Very well. Then I shall know +where to look for my rights. And as for that fellow there, I didn't +think it of him, that he'd be so mean. I knew he was a coward +always." + +"I am neither mean nor a coward," said Robinson, jumping up, and +speaking with a voice that was audible right across Spavinhorse Yard, +and into the tap of the "Man of Mischief" public-house opposite. "As +for meanness, if I had the money, I would pour it out into your lap, +though I knew that it was to be converted into beef and mutton for +the benefit of a hated rival. And as for cowardice, I repel the +charge, and drive it back into the teeth of him who, doubtless, made +it. I am no coward." + +"You ran away when he bid you!" + +"Yes; because he is big and strong, and had I remained, he would +have knocked me about, and made me ridiculous in the eyes of the +spectators. But I am no coward. If you wish it, I am ready to fight +him." + +"Oh, dear, no. It can be nothing to me." + +"He will make me one mash of gore," said Robinson, still holding out +his hand. "But if you wish it, I care nothing for that. His brute +strength will, of course, prevail; but I am indifferent as to that, +if it would do you a pleasure." + +"Pleasure to me! Nothing of the kind, I can assure you." + +"Maryanne, if I might have my wish, it should be this. Let us both +sit down, with our cigars lighted,--ay, and with tapers in our +hands,--on an open barrel of gunpowder. Then let him who will sit +there longest receive this fair hand as his prize." And as he +finished, he leaned over her, and took up her hand in his. + +"Laws, Robinson!" she said; but she did not on the moment withdraw +her hand. "And if you were both blew up, what'd I do then?" + +"I won't hear of such an arrangement," said Mr. Brown. "It would be +very wicked. If there's another word spoke about it, I'll go to the +police at once!" + +On that occasion Mr. Brown was quite determined about the money; and, +as we heard afterwards, Mr. Brisket expressed himself as equally +resolute. "Of course, I expect to see my way," said he; "I can't do +anything of that sort without seeing my way." When that overture +about the gunpowder was repeated to him, he is reported to have +become very red. "Either with gloves or without, or with the sticks, +I'm ready for him," said he; "but as for sitting on a barrel of +gunpowder, it's a thing as nobody wouldn't do unless they was in +Bedlam." + +When that interview was over, Robinson walked forth by himself into +the evening air, along Giltspur Street, down the Old Bailey, and so +on by Bridge Street, to the middle of Blackfriars Bridge; and as he +walked, he strove manfully to get the better of the passion which was +devouring the strength of his blood, and the marrow of his bones. + +"If she be not fair for me," he sang to himself, "what care I how +fair she be?" But he did care; he could not master that passion. +She had been vile to him, unfeminine, untrue, coarsely abusive; she +had shown herself to be mercenary, incapable of true love, a scold, +fickle, and cruel. But yet he loved her. There was a gallant feeling +at his heart that no misfortune could conquer him,--but one; that +misfortune had fallen upon him,--and he was conquered. + +"Why is it," he said as he looked down into the turbid stream--"why +is it that bloodshed, physical strife, and brute power are dear to +them all? Any fool can have personal bravery; 'tis but a sign of +folly to know no fear. Grant that a man has no imagination, and he +cannot fear; but when a man does fear, and yet is brave--" Then for +awhile he stopped himself. "Would that I had gone at his throat like +a dog!" he continued, still in his soliloquy. "Would that I had! +Could I have torn out his tongue, and laid it as a trophy at her +feet, then she would have loved me." After that he wandered slowly +home, and went to bed. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +MR. BRISKET THINKS HE SEES HIS WAY, AND MR. ROBINSON AGAIN WALKS ON +BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE. + + +For some half-hour on that night, as Robinson had slowly walked +backwards and forwards across the bridge, ideas of suicide had +flitted across his mind. Should he not put an end to all this,--to +all this and so much else that harassed him and made life weary. +"''Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished,'" he said, as he looked +down into the dark river. And then he repeated a good deal more, +expressing his desire to sleep, but acknowledging that his dreams in +that strange bed might be the rub. "And thus 'calamity must still +live on,'" he said, as he went home to his lodgings. + +Then came those arrangements as to the partnership and the house in +Bishopsgate Street, which have already been narrated. During the +weeks which produced these results, he frequently saw Maryanne in +Smithfield, but never spoke to her, except on the ordinary topics of +the day. In his demeanour he was courteous to her, but he never once +addressed her except as Miss Brown, and always with a politeness +which was as cold as it was studied. On one or two occasions he +thought that he observed in her manner something that showed a wish +for reconciliation; but still he said nothing to her. "She has +treated me like a dog," he said to himself, "and yet I love her. If +I tell her so, she will treat me worse than a dog." Then he heard, +also, that Brisket had declared more than once that he could not see +his way. "I could see mine," he said, "as though a star guided me, +if she should but stretch forth her hand to me and ask me to forgive +her." + +It was some week or two after the deed of partnership had been +signed, and when the house at No. 81 had been just taken, that +Miss Twizzle came to Robinson. He was, at the moment, engaged in +composition for an illustrious house in the Minories that shall be +nameless; but he immediately gave his attention to Miss Twizzle, +though at the moment he was combating the difficulties of a rhyme +which it had been his duty to repeat nineteen times in the same poem. +"I think that will do," said he, as he wrote it down. "And yet it's +lame,--very lame: + + + But no lady ever loses + By going to the shop of--" + + +And then Miss Twizzle entered. + +"I see you are engaged," said she, "and, perhaps, I had better call +another time." + +"By no means, Miss Twizzle; pray be seated. How is everything going +on at the Hall of Harmony?" + +"I haven't been there, Mr. Robinson, since that night as Mr. Brisket +did behave so bad. I got such a turn that night, as I can't endure +the sight of the room ever since. If you'll believe me, I can't." + +"It was not a pleasant occurrence," said Robinson. "I felt it very +keenly. A man's motives are so vilely misconstrued, Miss Twizzle. I +have been accused of--of--cowardice." + +"Not by me, Mr. Robinson. I did say you should have stuck up a bit; +but I didn't mean anything like that." + +"Well; it's over now. When are they to be married, Miss Twizzle?" + +"Now, Mr. Robinson, don't you talk like that. You wouldn't take it +all calm that way if you thought she was going to have him." + +"I mean to take it very calm for the future." + +"But I suppose you're not going to give her up. It wouldn't be like +you, that wouldn't." + +"She has spurned me, Miss Twizzle; and after that--." + +"Oh, spurn! that's all my eye. Of course she has. There's a little of +that always, you know,--just for the fun of the thing. The course of +love shouldn't run too smooth. I wouldn't give a straw for a young +man if he wouldn't let me spurn him sometimes." + +"But you wouldn't call him a--a--" + +"A what? A coward, is it? Indeed but I would, or anything else that +came uppermost. Laws! what's the good of keeping company if you ain't +to say just what comes uppermost at the moment. 'Twas but the other +day I called my young man a raskil." + +"It was in sport, no doubt." + +"I was that angry at the time I could have tore him limb from limb; +I was, indeed. But he says, 'Polly,' says he, 'if I'm a he-raskil, +you're a she-raskil; so that needn't make any difference between us.' +And no more it didn't. He gets his salary rose in January, and then +we shall be married." + +"I wish you all the happiness that married life can bestow," said +Robinson. + +"That's very prettily said, and I wish the same to you. Only you +mustn't be so down like. There's Maryanne; she says you haven't a +word for her now." + +"She'll find as many words as she likes in Aldersgate Street, no +doubt." + +"Now, Robinson, if you're going to go on like that, you are not +the man I always took you for. You didn't suppose that a girl like +Maryanne isn't to have her bit of fun as long as it lasts. Them as +is as steady as old horses before marriage usually has their colt's +fling after marriage. Maryanne's principles is good, and that's +everything;--ain't it?" + +"I impute nothing to Miss Brown, except that she is false, and +mercenary, and cruel." + +"Exactly; just a she-raskil, as Tom called me. I was mercenary and +all the rest of it. But, laws! what's that between friends? The long +and short of it is this; is Barkis willing? If Barkis is willing, +then a certain gentleman as we know in the meat trade may suit +himself elsewhere. Come; answer that. Is Barkis willing?" + +For a minute or two Robinson sat silent, thinking of the indignities +he had endured. That he loved the girl,--loved her warmly, with all +his heart,--was only too true. Yes; he loved her too well. Had his +affection been of a colder nature, he would have been able to stand +off for awhile, and thus have taught the lady a lesson which might +have been of service. But, in his present mood, the temptation was +too great for him, and he could not resist it. "Barkis is willing," +said he. And thus, at the first overture, he forgave her all the +injury she had done him. A man never should forgive a woman unless he +has her absolutely in his power. When he does so, and thus wipes out +all old scores, he merely enables her to begin again. + +But Robinson had said the word, and Miss Twizzle was not the woman to +allow him to go back from it. "That's well," said she. "And now I'll +tell you what. Tom and I are going to drink tea in Smithfield, with +old Brown, you know. You'll come too; and then, when old Brown goes +to sleep, you and Maryanne will make it up." Of course she had her +way; and Robinson, though he repented himself of what he was doing +before she was out of the room, promised to be there. + +And he was there. When he entered Mr. Brown's sitting-room he found +Maryanne and Miss Twizzle, but Miss Twizzle's future lord had not +yet come. He did not wait for Mr. Brown to go to sleep, but at once +declared the purpose of his visit. + +"Shall I say 'Maryanne?'" said he, putting out his hand; "or is it to +be 'Miss Brown?'" + +"Well, I'm sure," said she; "there's a question! If 'Miss Brown' will +do for you, sir, it will do uncommon well for me." + +"Call her 'Maryanne,' and have done with it," said Miss Twizzle. "I +hate all such nonsense, like poison." + +"George," said the old man, "take her, and may a father's blessing go +along with her. We are partners in the haberdashery business, and now +we shall be partners in everything." Then he rose up, as though he +were going to join their hands. + +"Oh, father, I know a trick worth two of that!" said Maryanne. +"That's not the way we manage these things now-a-days, is it, Polly?" + +"I don't know any better way," said Polly, "when Barkis is willing." + +"Maryanne," said Robinson, "let bygones be bygones." + +"With all my heart," said she. "All of them, if you like." + +"No, not quite all, Maryanne. Those moments in which I first declared +what I felt for you can never be bygones for me. I have never +faltered in my love; and now, if you choose to accept my hand in the +presence of your father, there it is." + +"God bless you, my boy! God bless you!" said Mr. Brown. + +"Come, Maryanne," said Miss Twizzle, "he has spoke out now, quite +manly; and you should give him an answer." + +"But he is so imperious, Polly! If he only sees me speaking to +another, in the way of civility--as, of course, I must,--he's up with +his grand ways, and I'm put in such a trembling that I don't know how +to open my mouth." + +Of course, every one will know how the affair ended on that evening. +The quarrels of lovers have ever been the renewal of love. Miss Brown +did accept Mr. Robinson's vows; Mr. Brown did go to sleep; Tom, whose +salary was about to be raised to the matrimonial point, did arrive; +and the evening was passed in bliss and harmony. + +Then, again, for a week or two did George Robinson walk upon roses. +It could not now be thrown in his teeth that some other suitor was +an established tradesman; for such also was his proud position. He +was one of that firm whose name was already being discussed in the +commercial world, and could feel that the path to glory was open +beneath his feet. It was during these days that those original ideas +as to the name and colour of the house, and as to its architectural +ornamentation, came from his brain, and that he penned many of those +advertisements which afterwards made his reputation so great. It was +then that he so plainly declared his resolve to have his own way in +his own department, and startled his partners by the firmness of his +purpose. It need hardly be said that gratified love was the source +from whence he drew his inspiration. + +"And now let us name the day," said Robinson, as soon as that other +day,--the opening day for Magenta House,--had been settled. All +nature would then be smiling. It would be the merry month of May; and +Robinson suggested that, after the toil of the first fortnight of +the opening, a day's holiday for matrimonial purposes might well be +accorded to him. "We'll go to the bowers of Richmond, Maryanne," said +he. + +"God bless you, my children," said Mr. Brown. "And as for the +holiday, Jones shall see the shutters down, and I will see them up +again." + +"What!" said Maryanne. "This next first of June as ever is? I'll do +no such thing." + +"Why not, my own one?" + +"I never heard the like! Where am I to get my things? And you will +have no house taken or anything. If you think I'm going into lodgings +like Sarah Jane, you're mistook. I don't marry unless I have things +comfortable about me,--furniture, and all that. While you were in +your tantrums, George, I once went to see William Brisket's house." + +"---- William Brisket!" said Robinson. Perhaps, he was wrong in using +such a phrase, but it must be confessed that he was sorely tried. Who +but a harpy would have alluded to the comforts of a rival's domestic +establishment at such a moment as that? Maryanne Brown was a harpy, +and is a harpy to this day. + +"There, father," said she, "look at that! just listen to him! You +wouldn't believe me before. What's a young woman to look for with +a man as can go on like that?--cursing and swearing before one's +face,--quite awful!" + +"He was aggravated, Maryanne," said the old man. + +"Yes, and he'll always be being aggravated. If he thinks as I ain't +going to speak civil of them as has always spoke civil to me, he's in +the wrong of it. William Brisket never went about cursing at me in +that way." + +"I didn't curse at you, Maryanne." + +"If William Brisket had anything to say of a rival, he said it out +honest. 'Maryanne,' said he to me once, 'if that young man comes +after you any more, I'll polish his head off his shoulders.' Now, +that was speaking manly; and, if you could behave like that, you'd +get yourself respected. But as for them rampagious Billingsgate ways +before a lady, I for one haven't been used to it, and I won't put up +with it!" And so she bounced out of the room. + +"You shouldn't have swore at her, George," said Mr. Brown. + +"Swear at her!" said Robinson, putting his hand up to his head, +as though he found it almost impossible to collect his scattered +thoughts. "But it doesn't matter. The world may swear at her for me +now; and the world will swear at her!" So saying, he left the house, +went hastily down Snow Hill, and again walked moodily on the bridge +of Blackfriars. "'Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished," said +he: "--devoutly!--devoutly! And when they take me up,--up to her, +would it be loving, or would it be loathing?--A nasty, cold, moist, +unpleasant body!" he went on. "Ah me! it would be loathing! He +hadn't a father; he hadn't a mother; he hadn't a sister; he hadn't a +brother;--but he had a dearer one still, and a nearer one yet, than +all other.--'To be or not to be; that is the question.'--He must in +ground unsanctified be lodged, till the last trumpet! Ah, there's the +rub! But for that, who would these fardels bear?" Then he made up his +mind that the fardels must still be borne, and again went home to his +lodgings. + +This had occurred some little time before the opening of the house, +and on the next morning George Robinson was at his work as hard,--ay, +harder--than ever. He had pledged himself to the firm, and was aware +that it would ill become him to allow private sorrows to interfere +with public duties. On that morrow he was more enterprising than +ever, and it was then that he originated the idea of the four men in +armour, and of Fame with her classical horn and gilded car. + +"She'll come round again, George," said Mr. Brown, "and then take her +at the hop." + +"She'll hop no more for me," said George Robinson, sternly. But on +this matter he was weak as water, and this woman was able to turn him +round her little finger. + +On the fourteenth of May, the day previous to the opening of the +house, Robinson was seated upstairs alone, still at work on some of +his large posters. There was no sound to be heard but the hammers of +the workmen below; and the smell of the magenta paint, as it dried, +was strong in his nostrils. It was then that one of the workmen came +up to him, saying that there was a gentleman below who wished to +see him. At this period Robinson was anxious to be called on by +commercial gentlemen, and at once sent down civil word, begging that +the gentleman would walk up. With heavy step the gentleman did walk +up, and William Brisket was shown into the room. + +"Sir," said George Robinson as soon as he saw him, "I did not expect +this honour from you." And then he bethought himself of his desire to +tear out the monster's tongue, and began to consider whether he might +do it now. + +"I don't know much about honour," said Brisket; "but it seems to me +an understandin's wanted 'twixt you and I." + +"There can be none such," said Robinson. + +"Oh, but there must." + +"It is not within the compass of things. You, sir, cannot understand +me;--your intellectual vision is too limited. And I,--I will not +understand you." + +"Won't you, by jingo! Then your vision shall be limited, as far as +two uncommon black eyes can limit it. But come, Robinson, if you +don't want to quarrel, I don't." + +"As for quarrelling," said Robinson, "it is the work of children. +Come, Brisket, will you jump with me into yonder river? The first +that reaches the further side, let him have her!" And he pointed up +Bishopsgate Street towards the Thames. + +"Perhaps you can swim?" said Brisket. + +"Not a stroke!" said Robinson. + +"Then what a jolly pair of fools we should be!" + +"Ah-h-h-h! That's the way to try a man's metal!" + +"If you talk to me about metal, young man, I'll drop into you. +You've been a-sending all manner of messages to me about a barrel +of gunpowder and that sort of thing, and it's my mind that you're a +little out of your own. Now I ain't going to have anything to do with +gunpowder, nor yet with the river. It's a nasty place is the river; +and when I want a wash I shan't go there." + +"'Dreadfully staring through muddy impurity!'" said Robinson. + +"Impurity enough," continued the other; "and I won't have anything to +do with it. Now, I'll tell you what. Will you give me your word, as a +man, never to have nothing more to say to Maryanne Brown?" + +"Never again to speak to her?" + +"Not, except in the way of respect, when she's Mrs. Brisket." + +"Never again to clasp her hand in mine?" + +"Not by no means. And if you want me to remain quiet, you'd a deal +better stow that kind of thing. I'll tell you what it is--I'm +beginning to see my way with old Brown." + +"Et tu, Brute?" said Robinson, clasping his hands together. + +"I'm beginning to see my way with old Brown," continued Brisket; +"and, to tell you the truth at once, I don't mean to be interfered +with." + +"Has--my partner--promised--her hand to you?" + +"Yes, he has; and five hundred pounds with it." + +"And she--?" + +"Oh, she's all right. There isn't any doubt about she. I've just come +from she, as you call her. Now that I see my way, she and I is to be +one." + +"And where's the money to come from, Mr. Brisket?" + +"The father 'll stand the money--in course." + +"I don't know where he'll get it, then; certainly not out of the +capital of our business, Mr. Brisket. And since you are so keen about +seeing your way, Mr. Brisket, I advise you to be quite sure that you +do see it." + +"That's my business, young man; I've never been bit yet, and I don't +know as I'm going to begin now. I never moves till I see my way. They +as does is sure to tumble." + +"Well; see your way," said Robinson. "See it as far as your natural +lights will enable you to look. It's nothing to me." + +"Ah, but I must hear you say that you renounce her." + +"Renounce her, false harpy! Ay, with all my heart." + +"But I won't have her called out of her name." + +"She is false." + +"Hold your tongue, or I'll drop into you. They're all more or less +false, no doubt; but I won't have you say so of her. And since you're +so ready about the renouncing, suppose you put it on paper--'I +renounce my right to the hand and heart of Maryanne Brown.' You've +got pen and ink there;--just put it down." + +"It shall not need," said Robinson. + +"Oh, but it does need. It'll put an end to a world of trouble and +make her see that the thing is all settled. It can't be any sorrow to +you, because you say she's a false harpy." + +"Nevertheless, I love her." + +"So do I love her; and as I'm beginning to see my way, why, of +course, I mean to have her. We can't both marry her; can we?" + +"No; not both," said Robinson. "Certainly not both." + +"Then you just write as I bid you," said Brisket. + +"Bid me, sir!" + +"Well,--ask you; if that will make it easier." + +"And what if I don't?" + +"Why, I shall drop into you. That's all about it. There's the pen, +ink, and paper; you'd better do it." + +Not at first did Robinson write those fatal words by which he gave up +all his right to her he loved; but before that interview was ended +the words were written. "What matters it?" he said, at last, just as +Brisket had actually risen from his seat to put his vile threat into +execution. "Has not she renounced me?" + +"Yes," said Brisket, "she has done that certainly." + +"Had she been true to me," continued Robinson, "to do her a pleasure +I would have stood up before you till you had beaten me into the +likeness of one of your own carcases." + +"That's what I should have done, too." + +"But now;--why should I suffer now?" + +"No, indeed; why should you?" + +"I would thrash you if I could, for the pure pleasure." + +"No doubt; no doubt." + +"But it stands to reason that I can't. God, when He gave me power of +mind, gave you power of body." + +"And a little common sense along with it, my friend. I'm generally +able to see my way, big as I look. Come; what's the good of arguing. +You're quick at writing, I know, and there's the paper." + +Then George Robinson did write. The words were as follows;--"I +renounce the hand and heart of Maryanne Brown. I renounce them for +ever.--George Robinson." + +On the night of that day, while the hammers were still ringing by +gaslight in the unfinished shop; while Brown and Jones were still +busy with the goods, and Mrs. Jones was measuring out to the +shop-girls yards of Magenta ribbon, short by an inch, Robinson again +walked down to the bridge. "The bleak wind of March makes me tremble +and shiver," said he to himself;--"but, 'Not the dark arch or the +black flowing river.'" + +"Come, young man, move on," said a policeman to him. And he did move +on. + +"But for that man I should have done it then," he whispered, in his +solitude, as he went to bed. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +SHOWING HOW MR. ROBINSON WAS EMPLOYED ON THE OPENING DAY. + + +"Et tu, Brute?" were the words with which Mr. Brown was greeted at +six o'clock in the morning on that eventful day, when, at early dawn, +he met his young partner at Magenta House. He had never studied the +history of Caesar's death, but he understood the reproach as well as +any Roman ever did. + +"It was your own doing, George," he said. "When she was swore at in +that way, and when you went away and left her--." + +"It was she went away and left me." + +"'Father,' said she when she came back, 'I shall put myself under the +protection of Mr. William Brisket.' What was I to do then? And when +he came himself, ten minutes afterwards, what was I to say to him? A +father is a father, George; and one's children is one's children." + +"And they are to be married?" + +"Not quite at once, George." + +"No. The mercenary slaughterer will reject that fair hand at last, +unless it comes to him weighted with a money-bag. From whence are to +come those five hundred pounds without which William Brisket will not +allow your daughter to warm herself at his hearthstone?" + +"As Jones has got the partnership, George, Maryanne's husband should +have something." + +"Ah, yes! It is I, then,--I, as one of the partners of this house, +who am to bestow a dowry upon her who has injured me, and make happy +the avarice of my rival! Since the mimic stage first represented the +actions of humanity, no such fate as that has ever been exhibited as +the lot of man. Be it so. Bring hither the cheque-book. That hand +that was base enough to renounce her shall, with the same pen, write +the order for the money." + +"No, George, no," said Mr. Brown. "I never meant to do that. Let him +have it--out of the profits." + +"Ha!" + +"I said in a month,--if things went well. Of course, I meant,--well +enough." + +"But they'll lead you such a life as never man passed yet. Maryanne, +you know, can be bitter; very bitter." + +"I must bear it, George. I've been a-bearing a long while, and I'm +partly used to it. But, George, it isn't a pleasure to me. It isn't a +pleasure to a poor old father to be nagged at by his daughters from +his very breakfast down to his very supper. And they comes to me +sometimes in bed, nagging at me worse than ever." + +"My heart has often bled for you, Mr. Brown." + +"I know it has, George; and that's why I've loved you and trusted +you. And now you won't quarrel with me, will you, though I have a +little thrown you over like?" + +What was Robinson to say? Of course he forgave him. It was in his +nature to forgive; and he would even have forgiven Maryanne at that +moment, had she come to him and asked him. But she was asleep in her +bed, dreaming, perchance, of that big Philistine whom she had chosen +as her future lord. A young David, however, might even yet arise, who +should smite that huge giant with a stone between the eyes. + +Then did Mr. Brown communicate to his partner those arrangements as +to grouping which his younger daughter had suggested for the opening +of the house. When Robinson first heard that Maryanne intended to be +there, he declared his intention of standing by her side, though he +would not deign even to look her in the face. "She shall see that she +has no power over me, to make me quail," he said. And then he was +told that Brisket also would be there; Maryanne had begged the favour +of him, and he had unwillingly consented. "It is hard to bear," said +Robinson, "very hard. But it shall be borne. I do not remember ever +to have heard of the like." + +"He won't come often, George, you may be sure." + +"That I should have planned these glories for him! Well, well; be it +so. What is the pageantry to me? It has been merely done to catch the +butterflies, and of these he is surely the largest. I will sit alone +above, and work there with my brain for the service of the firm, +while you below are satisfying the eyes of the crowd." + +And so it had been, as was told in that chapter which was devoted to +the opening day of the house. Robinson had sat alone in the very room +in which he had encountered Brisket, and had barely left his seat +for one moment when the first rush of the public into the shop had +made his heart leap within him. There the braying of the horn in +the street, and the clatter of the armed horsemen on the pavement, +and the jokes of the young boys, and the angry threatenings of the +policemen, reached his ears. "It is well," said he; "the ball has +been set a-rolling, and the work that has been well begun is already +half completed. When once the steps of the unthinking crowd have +habituated themselves to move hither-ward, they will continue to come +with the constancy of the tide, which ever rolls itself on the same +strand." And then he tasked himself to think how that tide should +be made always to flow,--never to ebb. "They must be brought here," +said he, "ever by new allurements. When once they come, it is only in +accordance with the laws of human nature that they should leave their +money behind them." Upon that, he prepared the words for another +card, in which he begged his friends, the public of the city, to +come to Magenta House, as friends should come. They were invited to +see, and not to buy. The firm did not care that purchases should be +made thus early in their career. Their great desire was that the +arrangements of the establishment should be witnessed before any +considerable portion of the immense stock had been moved for the +purpose of retail sale. And then the West End public were especially +requested to inspect the furs which were being collected for the +anticipated sale of the next winter. It was as he wrote these words +that he heard that demand for the African monkey muff, and heard also +Mr. Jones's discreet answer. "Yes," said he to himself; "before we +have done, ships shall come to us from all coasts; real ships. From +Tyre and Sidon, they shall come; from Ophir and Tarshish, from the +East and from the West, and from the balmy southern islands. How +sweet will it be to be named among the Merchant Princes of this great +commercial nation!" But he felt that Brown and Jones would never be +Merchant Princes, and he already looked forward to the day when he +would be able to emancipate himself from such thraldom. + +It has been already said that a considerable amount of business was +done over the counter on the first day, but that the sum of money +taken was not as great as had been hoped. That this was caused by Mr. +Brown's injudicious mode of going to work, there could be no doubt. +He had filled the shelves of the shop with cheap articles for which +he had paid, and had hesitated in giving orders for heavy amounts +to the wholesale houses. Such orders had of course been given, and +in some cases had been given in vain; but quite enough of them had +been honoured to show what might have been done, had there been no +hesitation. "As a man of capital, I must object," he had said to Mr. +Robinson, only a week before the house was opened. "I wish I could +make you understand that you have no capital." "I would I could +divest you of the idea and the money too," said Robinson. But it was +all of no use. A domestic fowl that has passed all its days at a +barn-door can never soar on the eagle's wing. Now Mr. Brown was the +domestic fowl, while the eagle's pinion belonged to his youngest +partner. By whom in that firm the kite was personified, shall not +here be stated. + +Brisket on that day soon left the shop; but as Maryanne Brown +remained there, Robinson did not descend among the throng. There was +no private door to the house, and therefore he was forced to walk out +between the counters when he went to his dinner. On that occasion, +he passed close by Miss Brown, and met that young lady's eye without +quailing. She looked full upon him: and then, turning her face round +to her sister, tittered with an air of scorn. + +"I think he's been very badly used," said Sarah Jane. + +"And who has he got to blame but his own want of spirit?" said the +other. This was spoken in the open shop, and many of the young men +and women heard it. Robinson, however, merely walked on, raising his +hat, and saluting the daughters of the senior partner. But it must be +acknowledged that such remarks as that greatly aggravated the misery +of his position. + +It was on the evening of that day, when he was about to leave the +establishment for the night, that he heard a gentle creeping step on +the stairs, and presently Mrs. Jones presented herself in the room in +which he was sitting. Now if there was any human fellow-creature on +the face of this earth whom George Robinson had brought himself to +hate, that human fellow-creature was Sarah Jane Jones. Jones himself +he despised, but his feeling towards Mrs. Jones was stronger than +contempt. To him it was odious that she should be present in the +house at all, and he had obtained from her father a direct promise +that she should not be allowed to come behind the counters after this +their opening day. + +"George," she said, coming up to him, "I have come upstairs because I +wish to have a few words with you private." + +"Will you take a chair?" said he, placing one for her. One is bound +to be courteous to a lady, even though that lady be a harpy. + +"George," she again began,--she had never called him "George" before, +and he felt himself sorely tempted to tell her that his name was Mr. +Robinson. "George, I've brought myself to look upon you quite as a +brother-in-law, you know." + +"Have you?" said he. "Then you have done me an honour that does not +belong to me,--and never will." + +"Now don't say that, George. If you'll only bring yourself to show a +little more spirit to Maryanne, all will be right yet." + +What was she that she should talk to him about spirit? In these days +there was no subject which was more painful to him than that of +personal courage. He was well aware that he was no coward. He felt +within himself an impulse that would have carried him through any +danger of which the result would not have been ridiculous. He could +have led a forlorn hope, or rescued female weakness from the fangs of +devouring flames. But he had declined,--he acknowledged to himself +that he had declined,--to be mauled by the hands of an angry butcher, +who was twice his size. "One has to keep one's own path in the +world," he had said to himself; "but, nevertheless, one avoids a +chimney-sweeper. Should I have gained anything had I allowed that +huge monster to hammer at me?" So he had argued. But, though he had +thus argued, he had been angry with himself, and now he could not +bear to be told that he had lacked spirit. + +"That is my affair," he replied to her. "But those about me will find +that I do not lack spirit when I find fitting occasion to use it." + +"No; I'm sure they won't. And now's the time, George. You're not +going to let that fellow Brisket run off with Maryanne from before +your eyes." + +"He's at liberty to run anywhere for me." + +"Now, look here, George. I know you're fond of her." + +"No. I was once; but I've torn her from my heart." + +"That's nonsense, George. The fact is, the more she gives herself +airs and makes herself scarce and stiff to you, the more precious you +think her." Ignorant as the woman was of almost everything, she did +know something of human nature. + +"I shall never trouble myself about her again," said he. + +"Oh, yes, you will; and make her Mrs. Robinson before you've done. +Now, look here, George; that fellow Brisket won't have her, unless he +gets the money." + +"It's nothing to me," said Robinson. + +"And where's the money to come from, if not out of the house? Now, +you and Jones has your rights as partners, and I do hope you and he +won't let the old man make off with the capital of the firm in that +way. If he gives Brisket five hundred pounds,--and there isn't much +more left--" + +"I'll tell you what, Mrs. Jones;--he may give Brisket five thousand +pounds as far as I am concerned. Whatever Mr. Brown may do in that +way, I shan't interfere to prevent him." + +"You shan't!" + +"It's his own money, and, as far as George Robinson is concerned--" + +"His own money, and he in partnership with Jones! Not a penny of it +is his own, and so I'll make them understand. As for you, you are the +softest--" + +"Never mind me, Mrs. Jones." + +"No; I never will mind you again. Well, to be sure! And you'd stand +by and see the money given away in that way to enable the man you +hate to take away the girl you love! Well, I never--. They did say +you was faint-hearted, but I never thought to see the like of that in +a thing that called itself a man." And so saying, she took herself +off. + + + --"It cannot be, + But I am pigeon-livered, and lack gall, + To make oppression bitter," + + +said Robinson, rising from his seat, and slapping his forehead with +his hand; and then he stalked backwards and forwards through the +small room, driven almost to madness by the misery of his position. +"I am not splenetic and rash," he said; "yet have I something in me +dangerous. I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand Briskets could not, with +all their quantities of love, make up my sum." + +At this time Mr. Brown still lived at the house in Smithfield. It was +intended that he should move to Bishopsgate Street as soon as the +upper rooms could be made ready for him, but the works had hitherto +been confined to the shop. On this, the night of the opening day, +he intended to give a little supper to his partners; and Robinson, +having promised to join it, felt himself bound to keep his word. +"Brisket will not be there?" he asked, as he walked across Finsbury +Square with the old man. "Certainly not," said Mr. Brown; "I never +thought of asking him." And yet, when they reached the house, Brisket +was already seated by the fire, superintending the toasting of the +cheese, as though he were one of the family. "It's not my doing, +George; indeed, it's not," whispered Mr. Brown, as they entered the +sitting-room of the family. + + +[Illustration: Brisket makes himself useful.] + + +That supper-party was terrible to Robinson, but he bore it all +without flinching. Jones and his wife were there, and so also, of +course, was Maryanne. Her he had seen at the moment of his entry, +sitting by with well-pleased face, while her huge lover put butter +and ale into the frying-pan. "Why, Sarah Jane," she said, "I declare +he's quite a man cook. How useful he would be about a house!" + +"Oh, uncommon," said Sarah Jane. "And you mean to try before long, +don't you, Mr. Brisket?" + +"You must ask Maryanne about that," said he, raising his great red +face from the fire, and putting on the airs and graces of a thriving +lover. + +"Don't ask me anything," said Maryanne, "for I won't answer anything. +It's nothing to me what he means to try." + +"Oh, ain't it, though," said Brisket. And then they all sat down +to supper. It may be imagined with what ease Robinson listened to +conversation such as this, and with what appetite he took his seat at +that table. + +"Mr. Robinson, may I give you a little of this cheese?" said +Maryanne. What a story such a question told of the heartlessness, +audacity, and iron nerves of her who asked it! What power, and at +the same time what cruelty, there must have been within that laced +bodice, when she could bring herself to make such an offer! + +"By all means," said Robinson, with equal courage. The morsel was +then put upon his plate, and he swallowed it. "I would he had +poisoned it," said he to himself. "With what delight would I then +partake of the dish, so that he and she partook of it with me!" + +The misery of that supper-party will never be forgotten. Had Brisket +been Adonis himself, he could not have been treated with softer +courtesies by those two harpies; and yet, not an hour ago, Sarah +Jane Jones had been endeavouring to raise a conspiracy against his +hopes. What an ass will a man allow himself to become under such +circumstances! There sat the big butcher, smirking and smiling, +ever and again dipping his unlovely lips into a steaming beaker of +brandy-and-water, regarding himself as triumphant in the courts of +Venus. But that false woman who sat at his side would have sold him +piecemeal for money, as he would have sold the carcase of a sheep. + +"You do not drink, George," said Mr. Brown. + +"It does not need," said Robinson; and then he took his hat and went +his way. + +On that night he swore to himself that he would abandon her for ever, +and devote himself to commerce and the Muses. It was then that he +composed the opening lines of a poem which may yet make his name +famous wherever the English language is spoken:-- + + + The golden-eyed son of the Morning rushed down the wind + like a trumpet, + His azure locks adorning with emeralds fresh from the ocean. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +SHOWING HOW THE FIRM INVENTED A NEW SHIRT. + + +It has already been said that those four men in armour, on the +production of whom Robinson had especially prided himself, were +dispensed with after the first fortnight. This, no doubt, was brought +about through the parsimony of Mr. Brown, but in doing so he was +aided by a fortuitous circumstance. One of the horses trampled on a +child near the Bank, and then the police and press interfered. At +first the partners were very unhappy about the child, for it was +reported to them that the poor little fellow would die. Mr. Brown +went to see it, and ascertained that the mother knew how to make the +most of the occurrence;--and so, after a day or two, did the firm. +The Jupiter daily newspaper took the matter up, and lashed out +vigorously at what it was pleased to call the wickedness as well as +absurdity of such a system of advertising; but as the little boy +was not killed, nor indeed seriously hurt, the firm was able to +make capital out of the Jupiter, by sending a daily bulletin from +Magenta House as to the state of the child's health. For a week the +newspapers inserted these, and allowed the firm to explain that they +supplied nourishing food, and paid the doctor's bill; but at the end +of the week the editor declined any further correspondence. Mr. Brown +then discontinued his visits; but the child's fortune had been made +by gifts from a generous public, and the whole thing had acted as an +excellent unpaid advertisement. Now, it is well understood by all +trades that any unpaid advertisement is worth twenty that have cost +money. + +In this way the men in armour were put down, but they will be long +remembered by the world of Bishopsgate Street. That they cost money +is certain. "Whatever we do," said Mr. Brown, "don't let's have any +more horses. You see, George, they're always a-eating!" He could not +understand that it was nothing, though the horses had eaten gilded +oats, so long as there were golden returns. + +The men in armour, however, were put down, as also was the car of +Fame. One horse only was left in the service of the firm, and this +was an ancient creature that had for many years belonged to the +butter establishment in Smithfield. By this animal a light but large +wooden frame was dragged about, painted Magenta on its four sides, +and bearing on its various fronts different notices as to the +business of the house. A boy stood uncomfortably in the centre, +driving the slow brute by means of reins which were inserted through +the apertures of two of the letters; through another letter above +there was a third hole for his eyes, and, shut up in this prison, he +was enjoined to keep moving throughout the day. This he did at the +slowest possible pace, and thus he earned five shillings a week. The +arrangement was one made entirely by Mr. Brown, who himself struck +the bargain with the boy's father. Mr. Robinson was much ashamed of +this affair, declaring that it would be better to abstain altogether +from advertising in that line than to do it in so ignoble a manner; +but Mr. Brown would not give way, and the magenta box was dragged +about the streets till it was altogether shattered and in pieces. + +Stockings was the article in which, above all others, Mr. Brown was +desirous of placing his confidence. "George," said he, "all the world +wears stockings; but those who require African monkey muffs are in +comparison few in number. I know Legg and Loosefit of the Poultry, +and I'll purchase a stock." He went to Legg and Loosefit and did +purchase a stock, absolutely laying out a hundred pounds of ready +money for hosiery, and getting as much more on credit. Stockings is +an article on which considerable genius might be displayed by any +house intending to do stockings, and nothing else; but taken up in +this small way by such a firm as that of 81, Bishopsgate Street, it +was simply embarrassing. "Now you can say something true in your +advertisements," said Mr. Brown, with an air of triumph, when the +invoice of the goods arrived. + +"True!" said Robinson. He would not, however, sneer at his partner, +so he retreated to his own room, and went to work. "Stockings!" said +he to himself. "There is no room for ambition in it! But the word +'Hose' does not sound amiss." And then he prepared that small book, +with silk magenta covers and silvery leaves, which he called _The New +Miracle!_ + + + The whole world wants stockings, [he began, not disdaining + to take his very words from Mr. Brown]--and Brown, Jones, + and Robinson are prepared to supply the whole world with + the stockings which they want. The following is a list of + some of the goods which are at present being removed from + the river to the premises at Magenta House, in Bishopsgate + Street. B., J., and R. affix the usual trade price of the + article, and the price at which they are able to offer them + to the public. + + One hundred and twenty baskets of ladies' Spanish + hose,--usual price, 1_s._ 3_d._; sold by B., J., and R. at + 9-3/4_d._ + + +"Baskets!" said Mr. Brown, when he read the little book. + +"It's all right," said Robinson. "I have been at the trouble to learn +the trade language." + + + Four hundred dozen white cotton hose,--usual price, 1_s._ + 0-1/2_d._; sold by B., J., and R. at 7-1/4_d._ + + Eight stack of China and pearl silk hose,--usual price, + 3_s._; sold by B., J., and R. for 1_s._ 9-3/4_d._ + + Fifteen hundred dozen of Balbriggan,--usual price, 1_s._ + 6_d._; sold by B., J., and R. for 10-1/2_d._ + + +It may not, perhaps, be necessary to continue the whole list +here; but as it was read aloud to Mr. Brown, he sat aghast with +astonishment. "George!" said he, at last, "I don't like it. It makes +me quite afeard. It does indeed." + +"And why do you not like it?" said Robinson, quietly laying down the +manuscript, and putting his hand upon it. "Does it want vigour?" + +"No; it does not want vigour." + +"Does it fail to be attractive? Is it commonplace?" + +"It is not that I mean," said Mr. Brown. "But--" + +"Is it not simple? The articles are merely named, with their prices." + +"But, George, we haven't got 'em. We couldn't hold such a quantity. +And if we had them, we should be ruined to sell them at such prices +as that. I did want to do a genuine trade in stockings." + +"And so you shall, sir. But how will you begin unless you attract +your customers?" + +"You have put your prices altogether too low," said Jones. "It stands +to reason you can't sell them for the money. You shouldn't have put +the prices at all;--it hampers one dreadful. You don't know what it +is to stand down there among 'em all, and tell 'em that the cheap +things haven't come." + +"Say that they've all been sold," said Robinson. + +"It's just the same," argued Jones. "I declare last Saturday night I +didn't think my life was safe in the crowd." + +"And who brought that crowd to the house?" demanded Robinson. "Who +has filled the shop below with such a throng of anxious purchasers?" + +"But, George," said Mr. Brown, "I should like to have one of these +bills true, if only that one might show it as a sample when the +people talk to one." + +"True!" said Robinson, again. "You wish that it should be true! In +the first place, did you ever see an advertisement that contained the +truth? If it were as true as heaven, would any one believe it? Was it +ever supposed that any man believed an advertisement? Sit down and +write the truth, and see what it will be! The statement will show +itself of such a nature that you will not dare to publish it. There +is the paper, and there the pen. Take them, and see what you can make +of it." + +"I do think that somebody should be made to believe it," said Jones. + +"You do!" and Robinson, as he spoke, turned angrily at the other. +"Did you ever believe an advertisement?" Jones, in self-defence, +protested that he never had. "And why should others be more simple +than you? No man,--no woman believes them. They are not lies; for it +is not intended that they should obtain credit. I should despise the +man who attempted to base his advertisements on a system of facts, +as I would the builder who lays his foundation upon the sand. The +groundwork of advertising is romance. It is poetry in its very +essence. Is Hamlet true?" + +"I really do not know," said Mr. Brown. + +"There is no man, to my thinking, so false," continued Robinson, "as +he who in trade professes to be true. He deceives, or endeavours to +do so. I do not. No one will believe that we have fifteen hundred +dozen of Balbriggan." + +"Nobody will," said Mr. Brown. + +"But yet that statement will have its effect. It will produce custom, +and bring grist to our mill without any dishonesty on our part. +Advertisements are profitable, not because they are believed, but +because they are attractive. Once understand that, and you will cease +to ask for truth." Then he turned himself again to his work and +finished his task without further interruption. + +"You shall sell your stockings, Mr. Brown," he said to the senior +member of the firm, about three days after that. + +"Indeed, I hope so." + +"Look here, sir!" and then he took Mr. Brown to the window. There +stood eight stalwart porters, divided into two parties of four each, +and on their shoulders they bore erect, supported on painted frames, +an enormous pair of gilded, embroidered, brocaded, begartered wooden +stockings. On the massive calves of these was set forth a statement +of the usual kind, declaring that "Brown, Jones, and Robinson, of 81, +Bishopsgate Street, had just received 40,000 pairs of best French +silk ladies' hose direct from Lyons." + +"And now look at the men's legs," said Robinson. Mr. Brown did +look, and perceived that they were dressed in magenta-coloured +knee-breeches, with magenta-coloured stockings. They were gorgeous +in their attire, and at this moment they were starting from the door +in different directions. "Perhaps you will tell me that that is not +true?" + +"I will say nothing about it for the future," said Mr. Brown. + +"It is not true," continued Robinson; "but it is a work of fiction, +in which I take leave to think that elegance and originality are +combined." + + +"We ought to do something special in shirts," said Jones, a few days +after this. "We could get a few dozen from Hodges, in King Street, +and call them Eureka." + +"Couldn't we have a shirt of our own?" said Mr. Robinson. "Couldn't +you invent a shirt, Mr. Jones?" Jones, as Robinson looked him full +in the face, ran his fingers through his scented hair, and said that +he would consult his wife. Before the day was over, however, the +following notice was already in type:-- + + + MANKIND IN A STATE OF BLISS! + + BROWN, JONES, AND ROBINSON have sincere pleasure in + presenting to the Fashionable World their new KATAKAIRION + SHIRT, in which they have thoroughly overcome the + difficulties, hitherto found to be insurmountable, of + adjusting the bodies of the Nobility and Gentry to + an article which shall be at the same time elegant, + comfortable, lasting, and cheap. + + B., J., and R.'s KATAKAIRION SHIRT, and their Katakairion + Shirt alone, is acknowledged to unite these qualities. + + Six Shirts for 39_s._ 9_d._ + + The Katakairion Shirt is specially recommended to Officers + going to India and elsewhere, while it is at the same time + eminently adapted for the Home Consumption. + + +"I think I would have considered it a little more, before I committed +myself," said Jones. + +"Ah, yes; you would have consulted your wife; as I have not got one, +I must depend on my own wits." + +"And are not likely to have one either," said Jones. + +"Young men, young men," said Mr. Brown, raising his hands +impressively, "if as Christians you cannot agree, at any rate you are +bound to do so as partners. What is it that the Psalmist says, 'Let +dogs delight, to bark and bite--.'" + +The notice as to the Katakairion shirt was printed on that day, as +originally drawn out by Robinson, and very widely circulated on the +two or three following mornings. A brisk demand ensued, and it was +found that Hodges, the wholesale manufacturer, of King Street, was +able to supply the firm with an article which, when sold at 39_s._ +6_d._, left a comfortable profit. + +"I told you that we ought to do something special in shirts," said +Jones, as though the whole merit of the transaction were his own. + +Gloves was another article to which considerable attention was +given;-- + + + BROWN, JONES, AND ROBINSON have made special arrangements + with the glove manufacturers of Worcestershire, and are + now enabled to offer to the public English-sewn Worcester + gloves, made of French kid, at a price altogether out of + the reach of any other house in the trade. + + B., J., and R. boldly defy competition. + + +When that notice was put up in front of the house, none of the firm +expected that any one would believe in their arrangement with the +Worcestershire glove-makers. They had no such hope, and no such wish. +What gloves they sold, they got from the wholesale houses in St. +Paul's Churchyard, quite indifferent as to the county in which they +were sewn, or the kingdom from which they came. Nevertheless, the +plan answered, and a trade in gloves was created. + +But perhaps the pretty little dialogues which were circulated about +the town, did more than anything else to make the house generally +known to mothers and their families. + + + "Mamma, mamma, I have seen such a beautiful sight!" + + +one of them began. + + + "My dearest daughter, what was it?" + + "I was walking home through the City, with my kind cousin + Augustus, and he took me to that wonderfully handsome and + extraordinarily large new shop, just opened by those + enterprising men, Brown, Jones, and Robinson, at No. 81, + Bishopsgate Street. They call it 'Nine Times Nine, or + Magenta House.'" + + "My dearest daughter, you may well call it wonderful. It + is the wonder of the age. Brown, Jones, and Robinson sell + everything; but not only that,--they sell everything good; + and not only that--they sell everything cheap. Whenever + your wants induce you to make purchases, you may always be + sure of receiving full value for your money at the house of + Brown, Jones, and Robinson." + + +In this way, by efforts such as these, which were never allowed +to flag for a single hour,--by a continued series of original +composition which, as regards variety and striking incidents, was, +perhaps, never surpassed,--a great and stirring trade was established +within six months of the opening day. By this time Mr. Brown had +learned to be silent on the subject of advertising, and had been +brought to confess, more than once, that the subject was beyond his +comprehension. + +"I am an old man, George," he said once, "and all this seems to be +new." + +"If it be not new, it is nothing," answered Robinson. + +"I don't understand it," continued the old man; "I don't pretend to +understand it; I only hope that it's right." + +The conduct which Jones was disposed to pursue gave much more +trouble. He was willing enough to allow Robinson to have his own +way, and to advertise in any shape or manner, but he was desirous of +himself doing the same thing. It need hardly be pointed out here that +this was a branch of trade for which he was peculiarly unsuited, and +that his productions would be stale, inadequate, and unattractive. +Nevertheless, he persevered, and it was only by direct interference +at the printer's, that the publication of documents was prevented +which would have been fatal to the interests of the firm. + +"Do I meddle with you in the shop?" Robinson would say to him. + +"You haven't the personal advantages which are required for meeting +the public," Jones would answer. + +"Nor have you the mental advantages without which original +composition is impossible." + +In spite of all these difficulties a considerable trade was +established within six months, and the shop was usually crowded. As a +drawback to this, the bills at the printer's and at the stationer's +had become very heavy, and Robinson was afraid to disclose their +amount to his senior partner. But nevertheless he persevered. "Faint +heart never won fair lady," he repeated to himself, over and over +again,--the fair lady for whom his heart sighed being at this time +Commercial Success. + +_Vestigia Nulla Retrorsum._ That should be the motto of the house. He +failed, however, altogether in making it intelligible to Mr. Brown. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +JOHNSON OF MANCHESTER. + + +It was about eight months after the business had been opened that a +circumstance took place which gave to the firm a reputation which +for some few days was absolutely metropolitan. The affair was at +first fortuitous, but advantage was very promptly taken of all that +occurred; no chance was allowed to pass by unimproved; and there was, +perhaps, as much genuine talent displayed in the matter as though the +whole had been designed from the beginning. The transaction was the +more important as it once more brought Mr. Robinson and Maryanne +Brown together, and very nearly effected a union between them. It was +not, however, written in the book that such a marriage should ever +be celebrated, and the renewal of love which for a time gave such +pleasure to the young lady's father, had no other effect than that +of making them in their subsequent quarrels more bitter than ever to +each other. + +It was about midwinter when the circumstances now about to be +narrated took place. Mr. Brown had gone down to the neighbourhood of +Manchester for the purpose of making certain bona fide purchases of +coloured prints, and had there come to terms with a dealer. At this +time there was a strike among the factories, and the goods became +somewhat more scarce in the market, and, therefore, a trifle dearer +than was ordinarily the case. From this arose the fact that the +agreement made with Mr. Brown was not kept by the Lancashire house, +and that the firm in Bishopsgate was really subjected to a certain +amount of commercial ill-treatment. + +"It is a cruel shame," said Mr. Brown--"a very cruel shame; when a +party in trade has undertaken a transaction with another party, no +consideration should hinder that party from being as good as his +word. A tradesman's word should be his bond." This purchase down +among the factories had been his own special work, and he had been +proud of it. He was, moreover, a man who could ill tolerate any +ill-usage from others. "Can't we do anything to 'em, George? Can't we +make 'em bankrupts?" + +"If we could, what good would that do us?" said Robinson. "We must +put up with it." + +"I'd bring an action against them," said Jones. + +"And spend thirty or forty pounds with the lawyers," said Robinson. +"No; we will not be such fools as that. But we might advertise the +injury." + +"Advertise the injury," said Mr. Brown, with his eyes wide open. By +this time he had begun to understand that the depth of his partner's +finesse was not to be fathomed by his own unaided intelligence. + +"And spend as much money in that as with the lawyers," said Jones. + +"Probably more," said Robinson, very calmly. "We promised the public +in our last week's circular that we should have these goods." + +"Of course we did," said Mr. Brown; "and now the public will be +deceived!" And he lifted up his hands in horror at the thought. + +"We'll advertise it," said Robinson again; and then for some short +space he sat with his head resting on his hands. "Yes, we'll +advertise it. Leave me for awhile, that I may compose the notices." + +Mr. Brown, after gazing at him for a moment with a countenance on +which wonder and admiration were strongly written, touched his other +partner on the arm, and led him from the room. + +The following day was Saturday, which at Magenta House was always the +busiest day of the week. At about four o'clock in the afternoon the +shop would become thronged, and from that hour up to ten at night +nearly as much money was taken as during all the week besides. On +that Saturday at about noon the following words were to be read at +each of the large sheets of glass in the front of the house. They +were printed, of course, on magenta paper, and the corners and +margins were tastefully decorated:-- + + + Brown, Jones, and Robinson, having been greatly deceived by + Johnson of Manchester, are not able to submit to the public + the 40,000 new specimens of English prints, as they had + engaged to do, on this day. But they beg to assure their + customers and the public in general that they will shortly + do so, however tremendous may be the sacrifice. + + +"But it was Staleybridge," said Mr. Brown, "and the man's name was +Pawkins." + +"And you would have me put up 'Pawkins of Staleybridge,' and thus +render the firm liable to an indictment for libel? Are not Pawkins +and Johnson all the same to the public?" + +"But there is sure to be some Johnson at Manchester." + +"There are probably ten, and therefore no man can say that he is +meant. I ascertained that there were three before I ventured on the +name." + +On that afternoon some trifling sensation was created in Bishopsgate +Street, and a few loungers were always on the pavement reading the +notice. Robinson went out from time to time, and heard men as they +passed talking of Johnson of Manchester. "It will do," said he. "You +will see that it will do. By seven o'clock on next Saturday evening I +will have the shop so crowded that women who are in shall be unable +to get out again." + +That notice remained up on Saturday evening, and till twelve on +Monday, at which hour it was replaced by the following:-- + + + Johnson of Manchester has proved himself utterly unable to + meet his engagement. The public of the metropolis, however, + may feel quite confident that Brown, Jones, and Robinson + will not allow any provincial manufacturer to practise such + dishonesty on the City with impunity. + + +The concourse of persons outside then became much greater, and an +audible hum of voices not unfrequently reached the ears of those +within. During this trying week Mr. Jones, it must be acknowledged, +did not play his part badly. It had come home to him in some manner +that this peculiar period was of vital importance to the house, and +on each day he came down to business dressed in his very best. It +was pleasant to see him as he stood at the door, shining with bear's +grease, loaded with gilt chains, glittering with rings, with the +lappets of his coat thrown back so as to show his frilled shirt and +satin waistcoat. There he stood, rubbing his hands and looking out +upon the people as though he scorned to notice them. As regards +intellect, mind, apprehension, there was nothing to be found in the +personal appearance of Jones, but he certainly possessed an amount of +animal good looks which had its weight with weak-minded females. + +The second notice was considered sufficient to attract notice on +Monday and Tuesday. On the latter day it became manifest that the +conduct of Johnson of Manchester had grown to be matter of public +interest, and the firm was aware that persons from a distance were +congregating in Bishopsgate Street, in order that they might see with +their own eyes the notices at Magenta House. + +Early on the Wednesday, the third of the series appeared. It was very +short, and ran as follows:-- + + + Johnson of Manchester is off! + + The police are on his track! + + +This exciting piece of news was greedily welcomed by the walking +public, and a real crowd had congregated on the pavement by noon. A +little after that time, while Mr. Brown was still at dinner with his +daughter upstairs, a policeman called and begged to see some member +of the firm. Jones, whose timidity was overwhelming, immediately sent +for Mr. Brown; and he, also embarrassed, knocked at the door of Mr. +Robinson's little room, and asked for counsel. + +"The Peelers are here, George," he said. "I knew there'd be a row." + +"I hope so," said Robinson; "I most sincerely hope so." + +As he stood up to answer his senior partner he saw that Miss Brown +was standing behind her father, and he resolved that, as regarded +this occasion, he would not be taunted with want of spirit. + +"But what shall I say to the man?" asked Mr. Brown. + +"Give him a shilling and a glass of spirits; beg him to keep the +people quiet outside, and promise him cold beef and beer at three +o'clock. If he runs rusty, send for me." And then, having thus +instructed the head of the house, he again seated himself before his +writing materials at the table. + +"Mr. Robinson," said a soft voice, speaking to him through the +doorway, as soon as the ponderous step of the old man was heard +descending the stairs. + +"Yes; I am here," said he. + +"I don't know whether I may open the door," said she; "for I would +not for worlds intrude upon your studies." + +He knew that she was a Harpy. He knew that her soft words would only +bring him to new grief. But yet he could not help himself. Strong, in +so much else, he was utterly weak in her hands. She was a Harpy who +would claw out his heart and feed upon it, without one tender feeling +of her own. He had learned to read her character, and to know her for +what she was. But yet he could not help himself. + +"There will be no intrusion," he said. "In half an hour from this +time, I go with this copy to the printer's. Till then I am at rest." + +"At rest!" said she. "How sweet it must be to rest after labours such +as yours! Though you and I are two, Mr. Robinson, who was once one, +still I hear of you, and--sometimes think of you." + +"I am surprised that you should turn your thoughts to anything so +insignificant," he replied. + +"Ah! that is so like you. You are so scornful, and so proud,--and +never so proud as when pretending to be humble. I sometimes think +that it is better that you and I are two, because you are so proud. +What could a poor girl like me have done to satisfy you?" + +False and cruel that she was! 'Tis thus that the basilisk charms the +poor bird that falls a victim into its jaws. + +"It is better that we should have parted," said he. "Though I still +love you with my whole heart, I know that it is better." + +"Oh, Mr. Robinson!" + +"And I would that your nuptials with that man in Aldersgate Street +were already celebrated." + +"Oh, you cruel, heartless man!" + +"For then I should be able to rest. If you were once another's, I +should then know--" + +"You would know what, Mr. Robinson?" + +"That you could never be mine. Maryanne!" + +"Sir!" + +"If you would not have me disgrace myself for ever by my folly, leave +me now." + +"Disgrace yourself! I'm sure you'll never do that. 'Whatever happens +George Robinson will always act the gentleman,' I have said of you, +times after times, both to father and to William Brisket. 'So he +will!' father has answered. And then William Brisket has said--; I +don't know whether I ought to tell you what he said. But what he said +was this--'If you're so fond of the fellow, why don't you have him?'" + +All this was false, and Robinson knew that it was false. No such +conversation had ever passed. Nevertheless, the pulses of his heart +were stirred. + +"Tell me this," said he. "Are you his promised wife?" + +"Laws, Mr. Robinson!" + +"Answer me honestly, if you can. Is that man to be your husband? If +it be so it will be well for him, and well for you, but, above all, +it will be well for me, that we should part. And if it be so, why +have you come hither to torment me?" + +"To torment you, George!" + +"Yes; to torment me!" And then he rose suddenly from his feet, and +advanced with rapid step and fierce gesture towards the astonished +girl. "Think you that love such as mine is no torment? Think you that +I have no heart, no feeling; that this passion which tears me in +pieces can exist without throwing a cloud upon my life? With you, as +I know too well, all is calm and tranquil. Your bosom boils with no +ferment. It has never boiled. It will never boil. It can never boil. +It is better for you so. You will marry that man, whose house is +good, and whose furniture has been paid for. From his shop will come +to you your daily meals,--and you will be happy. Man wants but little +here below, nor wants that little long. Adieu." + +"Oh, George, are you going so?" + +"Yes; I am going. Why should I stay? Did I not with my own hand in +this room renounce you?" + +"Yes; you did, George. You did renounce me, and that's what's killing +me. So it is,--killing me." Then she threw herself into a chair and +buried her face in her handkerchief. + +"Would that we could all die," he said, "and that everything should +end. But now I go to the printer's. Adieu, Maryanne." + +"But we shall see each other occasionally,--as friends?" + +"To what purpose? No; certainly not as friends. To me such a trial +would be beyond my strength." And then he seized the copy from the +table, and taking his hat from the peg, he hurried out of the room. + +"As William is so stiff about the money, I don't know whether it +wouldn't be best after all," said she, as she took herself back to +her father's apartments. + +Mr. Brown, when he met the policeman, found that that excellent +officer was open to reason, and that when properly addressed he did +not actually insist on the withdrawal of the notice from the window. +"Every man's house is his castle, you know," said Mr. Brown. To this +the policeman demurred, suggesting that the law quoted did not refer +to crowded thoroughfares. But when invited to a collation at three +o'clock, he remarked that he might as well abstain from action till +that hour, and that he would in the meantime confine his beat to the +close vicinity of Magenta House. A friendly arrangement grew out +of this, which for awhile was convenient to both parties, and two +policemen remained in the front of the house, and occasionally +entered the premises in search of refreshment. + +After breakfast on the Thursday the fourth notice was put up:-- + + + The public of London will be glad to learn that Brown, + Jones, and Robinson have recovered the greatest part + of their paper which was in the hands of Johnson of + Manchester. Bills to the amount of fifteen thousand + pounds are, however, still missing. + + +It was immediately after this that the second policeman was +considered to be essentially necessary. The whole house, including +the young men and women of the shop, were animated with an enthusiasm +which spread itself even to the light porter of the establishment. +The conduct of Johnson, and his probable fate, were discussed aloud +among those who believed in him, while they who were incredulous +communicated their want of faith to each other in whispers. Mr. Brown +was smiling, affable, and happy; and Jones arrived on the Friday +morning with a new set of torquoise studs in his shirt. Why men +and women should have come to the house for gloves, stockings, and +ribbons, because Johnson of Manchester was said to have run away, it +may be difficult to explain. But such undoubtedly was the fact, and +the sales during that week were so great, as to make it seem that +actual commercial prosperity was at hand. + +"If we could only keep up the ball!" said Robinson. + +"Couldn't we change it to Tomkins of Leeds next week?" suggested +Jones. + +"I rather fear that the joke might be thought stale," replied +Robinson, with a good-natured smile. "There is nothing so fickle as +the taste of the public. The most popular author of the day can never +count on favour for the next six months." And he bethought himself +that, great as he was at the present moment, he also might be +eclipsed, and perhaps forgotten, before the posters which he was then +preparing had been torn down or become soiled. + +On the Friday no less than four letters appeared in the daily +Jupiter, all dated from Manchester, all signed by men of the name +of Johnson, and all denying that the writer of that special letter +had had any dealings whatever with Brown, Jones, and Robinson, of +Bishopsgate Street, London. There was "Johnson Brothers," "Johnson +and Co.," "Alfred Johnson and Son," and "Johnson and Johnson;" and in +one of those letters a suggestion was made that B., J., and R., of +London, should state plainly who was the special Johnson that had +gone off with the paper belonging to their house. + +"I know we shall be detected," said Mr. Brown, upon whose feelings +these letters did not act favourably. + +"There is nothing to detect," said Robinson; "but I will write a +letter to the editor." + +This he did, stating that for reasons which must be quite obvious to +the commercial reading public, it would be very unwise in the present +state of affairs to give any detailed description of that Mr. Johnson +who had been named; but that B., J., and R. were very happy to +be able to certify that that Mr. Johnson who had failed in his +engagements to them was connected neither with Johnson Brothers, or +Johnson and Co.; nor with Alfred Johnson and Son, or Johnson and +Johnson. This also acted as an advertisement, and no doubt brought +grist to the mill. + +On the evening of that same Friday a small note in a scented envelope +was found by Robinson on his table when he returned upstairs from the +shop. Well did he know the handwriting, and often in earlier days +had he opened such notes with mixed feelings of joy and triumph. All +those past letters had been kept by him, and were now lying under +lock and key in his desk, tied together with green silk, ready to be +returned when the absolute fact of that other marriage should have +become a certainty. He half made up his mind to return the present +missive unopened. He knew that good could not arise from a renewed +correspondence. Nevertheless, he tore asunder the envelope, and the +words which met his eye were as follows:-- + + + Miss Brown's compliments to Mr. Robinson, and will Mr. + Robinson tea with us in papa's room on Saturday, at six + o'clock? There will be nobody else but Mr. and Mrs. + Poppins, that used to be Miss Twizzle. Papa, perhaps, will + have to go back to the shop when he's done tea. Miss Brown + hopes Mr. Robinson will remember old days, and not make + himself scornful. + + +"Scornful!" said he. "Ha! ha! Yes; I scorn her;--I do scorn her. But +still I love her." Then he sat down and accepted the invitation. + + + Mr. Robinson presents his compliments to Miss Brown, and + will do himself the honour of accepting her kind invitation + for to-morrow evening. Mr. Robinson begs to assure Miss + Brown that he would have great pleasure in meeting any of + Miss Brown's friends whom she might choose to ask. + + +"Psha!" said Maryanne, when she read it. "It would serve him right +to ask Bill. And I would, too, only--." Only it would hardly have +answered her purpose, she might have said, had she spoken out her +mind freely. + +In the meantime the interest as to Johnson of Manchester was reaching +its climax. At ten o'clock on Saturday morning each division of the +window was nearly covered by an enormous bill, on which in very large +letters it was stated that-- + + + Johnson of Manchester has been taken. + + +From that till twelve the shop was inundated by persons who were +bent on learning what was the appearance and likeness of Johnson. +Photographers came to inquire in what gaol he was at present held, +and a man who casts heads in plaster of Paris was very intent upon +seeing him. No information could, of course, be given by the men and +women behind the counters. Among them there was at present raging a +violent discussion as to the existence or non-existence of Johnson. +It was pleasant to hear Jones repeating the circumstances to the +senior partner. "Mr. Brown, there's Miss Glassbrook gone over to the +anti-Johnsonites. I think we ought to give her a month's notice." +To those who inquired of Mr. Brown himself, he merely lifted up his +hands and shook his head. Jones professed that he believed the man to +be in the underground cells of Newgate. + +The bill respecting Johnson's capture remained up for two hours, and +then it was exchanged for another;-- + + + Johnson has escaped, but no expense + shall be spared in his recapture. + + +At four in the afternoon the public was informed as follows;-- + + + Johnson has got off, and sailed for America. + + +And then there was one other, which closed the play late on Saturday +evening;-- + + + Brown, Jones, and Robinson beg to assure the public that + they shall be put out of all suspense early on Monday + morning. + + +"And what shall we really say to them on Monday?" asked Mr. Jones. + +"Nothing at all," replied Mr. Robinson. "The thing will be dead by +that time. If they call, say that he's in Canada." + +"And won't there be any more about it?" + +"Nothing, I should think. We, however, have gained our object. The +house will be remembered, and so will the name of Brown, Jones, and +Robinson." + +And it was so. When the Monday morning came the windows were without +special notices, and the world walked by in silence, as though +Johnson of Manchester had never existed. Some few eager inquirers +called at the shop, but they were answered easily; and before the +afternoon the name had almost died away behind the counters. "I knew +I was right," said Miss Glassbrook, and Mr. Jones heard her say so. + +In and about the shop Johnson of Manchester was heard of no more, but +in Mr. Brown's own family there was still a certain interest attached +to the name. How it came about that this was so, shall be told in the +next chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +SAMSON AND DELILAH. + + +In the commercial world of London there was one man who was really +anxious to know what were the actual facts of the case with reference +to Johnson of Manchester. This was Mr. William Brisket, whose mind at +this time was perplexed by grievous doubts. He was called upon to act +in a case of great emergency, and was by no means sure that he saw +his way. It had been hinted to him by Miss Brown, on the one side, +that it behoved her to look to herself, and take her pigs to market +without any more shilly-shallying,--by which expression the fair +girl had intended to signify that it would suit her now to name +her wedding-day. And he had been informed by Mr. Brown, on the +other side, that that sum of five hundred pounds should be now +forthcoming;--or, if not actually the money, Mr. Brown's promissory +note at six months should be handed to him, dated from the day of his +marriage with Maryanne. + +Under these circumstances, he did not see his way. That the house in +Bishopsgate Street was doing a large business he did not doubt. He +visited the place often, and usually found the shop crowded. But he +did doubt whether that business was very lucrative. It might be that +the whole thing was a bubble, and that it would be burst before that +bill should have been honoured. In such case, he would have saddled +himself with an empty-handed wife, and would decidedly not have seen +his way. In this emergency he went to Jones and asked his advice. +Jones told him confidentially that, though the bill of the firm for +five thousand pounds would be as good as paper from the Bank of +England, the bill of Mr. Brown himself as an individual would be +worth nothing. + +Although Mr. Brisket had gone to Jones as a friend, there had been +some very sharp words between them before they separated. Brisket +knew well enough that all the ready money at the command of the firm +had belonged to Mr. Brown, and he now took upon himself to say that +Maryanne had a right to her share. Jones replied that there was no +longer anything to share, and that Maryanne's future husband must +wait for her fortune till her father could pay it out of his income. +"I couldn't see my way like that; not at all," said Brisket. And then +there had been high words between them. + +It was at this time that the first act of Johnson of Manchester's +little comedy was being played, and people in Mr. Brisket's world +were beginning to talk about the matter. "They must be doing a deal +of trade," said one. "Believe me, it is all flash and sham," said +another. "I happen to know that old Brown did go down to Manchester +and see Johnson there," said the first. "There is no such person at +all," said the second. So this went on till Mr. Brisket resolved that +his immediate matrimony should depend on the reality of Johnson's +existence. If it should appear that Johnson, with all his paper, was +a false meteor; that no one had deceived the metropolitan public; +that no one had been taken and had then escaped, he would tell Miss +Brown that he did not see his way. The light of his intelligence told +him that promissory notes from such a source, even though signed by +all the firm, would be illusory. If, on the other hand, Johnson of +Manchester had been taken, then, he thought, he might accept the +bill--and wife. + +"Maryanne," he said to the young lady early on that day on which she +had afterwards had her interview with Robinson, "what's all this +about Johnson of Manchester?" + +"I know nothing about your Johnsons, nor yet about your Manchester," +said Miss Brown, standing with her back to her lover. At this time +she was waxing wroth with him, and had learned to hate his voice, +when he would tell her that he had not yet seen his way. + +"That's all very well, Maryanne; but I must know something before I +go on." + +"Who wants you to go on? Not I, I'm sure; nor anybody belonging to +me. If I do hate anything, it's them mercenary ways. There's one who +really loves me, who'd be above asking for a shilling, if I'd only +put out my hand to him." + +"If you say that again, Maryanne, I'll punch his head." + +"You're always talking of punching people's heads; but I don't see +you do so much. I shouldn't wonder if you don't want to punch my head +some of these days." + +"Maryanne, I never riz a hand to a woman yet." + +"And you'd better not, as far as I'm concerned,--not as long as the +pokers and tongs are about." And then there was silence between them +for awhile. + +"Maryanne," he began again, "can't you find out about this Johnson?" + +"No; I can't," said she. + +"You'd better." + +"Then I won't," said she. + +"I'll tell you what it is, then, Maryanne. I don't see my way the +least in life about this money." + +"Drat your way! Who cares about your way?" + +"That's all very fine, Maryanne; but I care. I'm a man as is as good +as my word, and always was. I defy Brown, Jones, and Robinson to say +that I'm off, carrying anybody's paper. And as for paper, it's a +thing as I knows nothing about, and never wish. When a man comes to +paper, it seems to me there's a very thin wall betwixt him and the +gutter. When I buys a score of sheep or so, I pays for them down; and +when I sells a leg of mutton, I expects no less myself. I don't owe +a shilling to no one, and don't mean; and the less that any one owes +me, the better I like it. But Maryanne, when a man trades in that +way, a man must see his way. If he goes about in the dark, or with +his eyes shut, he's safe to get a fall. Now about this five hundred +pound; if I could only see my way--." + +As to the good sense of Mr. Brisket's remarks, there was no +difference of opinion between him and his intended wife. Miss +Brown would at that time have been quite contented to enter into +partnership for life on those terms. And though these memoirs are +written with the express view of advocating a theory of trade founded +on quite a different basis, nevertheless, it may be admitted that Mr. +Brisket's view of commerce has its charms, presuming that a man has +the wherewithal. But such a view is apt to lose its charms in female +eyes if it be insisted on too often, or too violently. Maryanne had +long since given in her adhesion to Mr. Brisket's theory; but now, +weary with repetition of the lesson, she was disposed to rebel. + +"Now, William Brisket," she said, "just listen to me. If you talk to +me again about seeing your way, you may go and see it by yourself. +I'm not so badly off that I'm going to have myself twitted at in that +way. If you don't like me, you can do the other thing. And this I +will say, when a gentleman has spoken his mind free to a lady, and a +lady has given her answer free back to him, it's a very mean thing +for a gentleman to be saying so much about money after that. Of +course, a girl has got herself to look to; and if I take up with you, +why, of course, I have to say, 'Stand off,' to any other young man as +may wish to keep me company. Now, there's one as shall be nameless +that wouldn't demean himself to say a word about money." + +"Because he ain't got none himself, as I take it." + +"He's a partner in a first-rate commercial firm. And I'll tell you +what, William Brisket, I'll not hear a word said against him, and +I'll not be put upon myself. So now I wishes you good morning." And +so she left him. + +Brisket, when he was alone, scratched his head, and thought wistfully +of his love. "I should like to see my way," said he. "I always did +like to see my way. And as for that old man's bit of paper--" Then he +relapsed once again into silence. + +It was within an hour of all this that Maryanne had followed her +father to George Robinson's room. She had declared her utter +indifference as to Johnson of Manchester; but yet it might, perhaps, +be as well that she should learn the truth. From her father she had +tried to get it, but he had succeeded in keeping her in the dark. To +Jones it would be impossible that she should apply; but from Robinson +she might succeed in obtaining his secret. She had heard, no doubt, +of Samson and Delilah, and thought she knew the way to the strong +man's locks. And might it not be well for her to forget that other +Samson, and once more to trust herself to her father's partners? When +she weighed the two young tradesmen one against the other, balancing +their claims with such judgment as she possessed, she doubted much as +to her choice. She thought that she might be happy with either;--but +then it was necessary that the other dear charmer should be away. +As to Robinson, he would marry her, she knew, at once, without any +stipulations. As to Brisket,--if Brisket should be her ultimate +choice,--it would be necessary that she should either worry her +father out of the money, or else cheat her lover into the belief that +the money would be forthcoming. Having taken all these circumstances +into consideration, she invited Mr. Robinson to tea. + +Mr. Brown was there, of course, and so also were Mr. and Mrs. +Poppins. When Robinson entered, they were already at the tea-table, +and the great demerits of Johnson of Manchester were under +discussion. + +"Now Mr. Robinson will tell us everything," said Mrs. Poppins. "It's +about Johnson, you know. Where has he gone to, Mr. Robinson?" But +Robinson professed that he did not know. + +"He knows well enough," said Maryanne, "only he's so close. Now do +tell us." + +"He'll tell _you_ anything _you_ choose to ask him," said Mrs. +Poppins. + +"Tell me anything! Not him, indeed. What does he care for me?" + +"I'm sure he would if he only knew what you were saying before he +came into the room." + +"Now don't, Polly!" + +"Oh, but I shall! because it's better he should know." + +"Now, Polly, if you don't hold your tongue, I'll be angry! Mr. +Robinson is nothing to me, and never will be, I'm sure. Only if he'd +do me the favour, as a friend, to tell us about Mr. Johnson, I'd take +it kind of him." + +In the meantime Mr. Brown and his young married guest were discussing +things commercial on their own side of the room, and Poppins, also, +was not without a hope that he might learn the secret. Poppins had +rather despised the firm at first, as not a few others had done, +distrusting all their earlier assurances as to trade bargains, and +having been even unmoved by the men in armour. But the great affair +of Johnson of Manchester had overcome even his doubts, and he began +to feel that it was a privilege to be noticed by the senior partner +in a house which could play such a game as that. It was not that +Poppins believed in Johnson, or that he thought that 15,000_l._ of +paper had at any time been missing. But, nevertheless, the proceeding +had affected his mind favourably with reference to Brown, Jones, +and Robinson, and brought it about that he now respected them,--and, +perhaps, feared them a little, though he had not respected or feared +them heretofore. Had he been the possessor of a wholesale house of +business, he would not now have dared to refuse them goods on credit, +though he would have done so before Johnson of Manchester had become +known to the world. It may therefore be surmised that George Robinson +had been right, and that he had understood the ways of British trade +when he composed the Johnsonian drama. + +"Indeed, I'd rather not, Mr. Poppins," said Mr. Brown. "Secrets in +trade should be secrets. And though Mr. Johnson has done us a deal of +mischief, we don't want to expose him." + +"But you've been exposing him ever so long," pleaded Poppins. + +"Now Poppins," said that gentleman's wife, "don't you be troubling +Mr. Brown. He's got other things to think of than answering your +questions. I should like to know myself, I own, because all the +town's talking about it. And it does seem odd to me that Maryanne +shouldn't know." + +"I don't, then," said Maryanne. "And I do think when a lady asks +a gentleman, the least thing a gentleman can do is to tell. But I +shan't ask no more,--not of Mr. Robinson. I was thinking--. But never +mind, Polly. Perhaps it's best as it is." + +"Would you have me betray my trust?" said Robinson. "Would you esteem +me the more because I had deceived my partners? If you think that +I am to earn your love in that way, you know but little of George +Robinson." Then he got up, preparing to leave the room, for his +feelings were too many for him. + +"Stop, George, stop," said Mr. Brown. + +"Let him go," said Maryanne. + +"If he goes away now I shall think him as hard as Adam," said Mrs. +Poppins. + +"There's three to one again him," said Mr. Poppins to himself. "What +chance can he have?" Mr. Poppins may probably have gone through some +such phase of life himself. + +"Let him go," said Maryanne again. "I wish he would. And then let him +never show himself here again." + +"George Robinson, my son, my son!" exclaimed the old man. + +It must be understood that Robinson had heard all this, though he had +left the room. Indeed, it may be surmised that had he been out of +hearing the words would not have been spoken. He heard them, for he +was still standing immediately beyond the door, and was irresolute +whether he would depart or whether he would return. + +"George Robinson, my son, my son!" exclaimed the old man again. + +"He shall come back!" said Mrs. Poppins, following him out of the +door. "He shall come back, though I have to carry him myself." + +"Polly," said Maryanne, "if you so much as whisper a word to ask him, +I'll never speak to you the longest day you have to live." + +But the threat was thrown away upon Mrs. Poppins, and, under her +auspices, Robinson was brought back into the room. "Maryanne," said +he, "will you renounce William Brisket?" + +"Laws, George!" said she. + +"Of course she will," said Mrs. Poppins, "and all the pomps and +vanities besides." + +"My son, my son!" said old Brown, lifting up both his hands. "My +daughter, my daughter! My children, my children!" And then he joined +their hands together and blessed them. + +He blessed them, and then went down into the shop. But before the +evening was over, Delilah had shorn Samson of his locks. "And so +there wasn't any Johnson after all," said she. + +But Robinson, as he returned home, walked again upon roses. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE WISDOM OF POPPINS. + + +George Robinson again walked upon roses, and for a while felt that +he had accomplished bliss. What has the world to offer equal to the +joy of gratified love? What triumph is there so triumphant as that +achieved by valour over beauty? + + + Take the goods the gods provide you. + The lovely Thais sits beside you. + + +Was not that the happiest moment in Alexander's life. Was it not +the climax of all his glories, and the sweetest drop which Fortune +poured into his cup? George Robinson now felt himself to be a second +Alexander. Beside him the lovely Thais was seated evening after +evening; and he, with no measured stint, took the goods the gods +provided. He would think of the night of that supper in Smithfield, +when the big Brisket sat next to his love, half hidden by her +spreading flounces, and would remember how, in his spleen, he had +likened his rival to an ox prepared for the sacrifice with garlands. +"Poor ignorant beast of the field!" he had said, apostrophizing the +unconscious Brisket, "how little knowest thou how ill those flowers +become thee, or for what purpose thou art thus caressed! They will +take from thee thy hide, thy fatness, all that thou hast, and divide +thy carcase among them. And yet thou thinkest thyself happy! Poor +foolish beast of the field!" Now that ox had escaped from the toils, +and a stag of the forest had been caught by his antlers, and was +bound for the altar. He knew all this, and yet he walked upon roses +and was happy. "Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof," he said +to himself. "The lovely Thais sits beside me. Shall I not take the +goods the gods provide me?" + +The lovely Thais sat beside him evening after evening for nearly +two months, up in Mr. Brown's parlour, but as yet nothing had +been decided as to the day of their marriage. Sometimes Mr. and +Mrs. Poppins would be there smiling, happy, and confidential; and +sometimes Mr. and Mrs. Jones careworn, greedy, and suspicious. On +those latter evenings the hours would all be spent in discussing the +profits of the shop and the fair division of the spoils. On this +subject Mrs. Jones would be very bitter, and even the lovely Thais +would have an opinion of her own which seemed to be anything but +agreeable to her father. + +"Maryanne," her lover said to her one evening, when words had been +rather high among them, "if you want your days to be long in the +land, you must honour your father and mother." + +"I don't want my days to be long, if we're never to come to an +understanding," she answered. "And I've got no mother, as you know +well, or you wouldn't treat me so." + +"You must understand, father," said Sarah Jane, "that things shan't +go on like this. Jones shall have his rights, though he don't +seem half man enough to stand up for them. What's the meaning of +partnership, if nobody's to know where the money goes to?" + +"I've worked like a horse," said Jones. "I'm never out of that place +from morning to night,--not so much as to get a pint of beer. And, as +far as I can see, I was better off when I was at Scrimble and Grutts. +I did get my salary regular." + +Mr. Brown was at this time in tears, and as he wept he lifted up +hands. "My children, my children!" said he. + +"That's all very well, father," said Maryanne. "But whimpering won't +keep anybody's pot a-boiling. I'm sick of this sort of thing, and, +to tell the truth, I think it quite time to see some sort of a house +over my head." + +"Would that I could seat you in marble halls!" said George Robinson. + +"Oh, bother!" said Maryanne. "That sort of a thing is very good +in a play, but business should be business." It must always be +acknowledged, in favour of Mr. Brown's youngest daughter, that her +views were practical, and not over-strained by romance. + +During these two or three months a considerable intimacy sprang up +between Mr. Poppins and George Robinson. It was not that there was +any similarity in their characters, for in most respects they were +essentially unlike each other. But, perhaps, this very difference led +to their friendship. How often may it be observed in the fields that +a high-bred, quick-paced horse will choose some lowly donkey for his +close companionship, although other horses of equal birth and speed +be in the same pasture! Poppins was a young man of an easy nature and +soft temper, who was content to let things pass by him unquestioned, +so long as they passed quietly. Live and let live, were words that +were often on his lips;--by which he intended to signify that he +would overlook the peccadilloes of other people, as long as other +people overlooked his own. When the lady who became afterwards Mrs. +Poppins had once called him a rascal, he had not with loud voice +asserted the injustice of the appellation, but had satisfied himself +with explaining to her that, even were it so, he was still fit for +her society. He possessed a practical philosophy of his own, by +which he was able to steer his course in life. He was not, perhaps, +prepared to give much to others, but neither did he expect that +much should be given to him. There was no ardent generosity in his +temperament; but then, also, there was no malice or grasping avarice. +If in one respect he differed much from our Mr. Robinson, so also +in another respect did he differ equally from our Mr. Jones. He +was at this time a counting-house clerk in a large wharfinger's +establishment, and had married on a salary of eighty pounds a year. +"I tell you what it is, Robinson," said he, about this time: "I don't +understand this business of yours." + +"No," said Robinson; "perhaps not. A business like ours is not easily +understood." + +"You don't seem to me to divide any profits." + +"In an affair of such magnitude the profits cannot be adjusted every +day, nor yet every month." + +"But a man wants his bread and cheese every day. Now, there's old +Brown. He's a deal sharper than I took him for." + +"Mr. Brown, for a commercial man of the old school, possesses +considerable intelligence," said Robinson. Throughout all these +memoirs, it may be observed that Mr. Robinson always speaks with +respect of Mr. Brown. + +"Very considerable indeed," said Poppins. "He seems to me to nobble +everything. Perhaps that was the old school. The young school ain't +so very different in that respect;--only, perhaps, there isn't so +much for them to nobble." + +"A regular division of our profits has been arranged for in our deed +of partnership," said Robinson. + +"That's uncommon nice, and very judicious," said Poppins. + +"It was thought to be so by our law advisers," said Robinson. + +"But yet, you see, old Brown nobbles the money. Now, if ever I goes +into partnership, I shall bargain to have the till for my share. You +never get near the till, do you?" + +"I attend to quite another branch of the business," said Robinson. + +"Then you're wrong. There's no branch of the business equal to the +ready money branch. Old Brown has lots of ready money always by him +now-a-days." + +It certainly was the case that the cash received day by day over the +counter was taken by Mr. Brown from the drawers and deposited by him +in the safe. The payments into the bank were made three times a week, +and the checks were all drawn by Mr. Brown. None of these had ever +been drawn except on behalf of the business; but then the payments +into the bank had by no means tallied with the cash taken; and +latterly,--for the last month or so,--the statements of the daily +cash taken had been very promiscuous. Some payments had, of course, +been made both to Jones and Robinson for their own expenses, but the +payments made by Mr. Brown to himself had probably greatly exceeded +these. He had a vague idea that he was supreme in money matters, +because he had introduced "capital" into the firm. George Robinson +had found it absolutely impossible to join himself in any league with +Jones, so that hitherto Mr. Brown had been able to carry out his own +theory. The motto, _Divide et impera_, was probably unknown to Mr. +Brown in those words, but he had undoubtedly been acting on the +wisdom which is conveyed in that doctrine. + +Jones and his wife were preparing themselves for war, and it was +plain to see that a storm of battle would soon be raging. Robinson +also was fully alive to the perils of his position, and anxious as he +was to remain on good terms with Mr. Brown, was aware that it would +be necessary for him to come to some understanding. In his difficulty +he had dropped some hints to his friend Poppins, not exactly +explaining the source of his embarrassment, but saying enough to make +that gentleman understand the way in which the firm was going on. + +"I suppose you're in earnest about that girl," said Poppins. Poppins +had an offhand, irreverent way of speaking, especially on subjects +which from their nature demanded delicacy, that was frequently +shocking to Robinson. + +"If you mean Miss Brown," said Robinson, in a tone of voice that was +intended to convey a rebuke, "I certainly am in earnest. My intention +is that she shall become Mrs. Robinson." + +"But when?" + +"As soon as prudence will permit and the lady will consent. Miss +Brown has never been used to hardship. For myself, I should little +care what privations I might be called on to bear, but I could hardly +endure to see her in want." + +"My advice to you is this. If you mean to marry her, do it at once. +If you and she together can't manage the old man, you can't be worth +your salt. If you can do that, then you can throw Jones overboard." + +"I am not in the least afraid of Jones." + +"Perhaps not; but still you'd better mind your P's and Q's. It seems +to me that you and he and the young women are at sixes and sevens, +and that's the reason why old Brown is able to nobble the money." + +"I certainly should be happier," said Robinson, "if I were married, +and things were settled." + +"As to marriage," said Poppins, "my opinion is this; if a man has to +do it, he might as well do it at once. They're always pecking at you; +and a fellow feels that if he's in for it, what's the good of his +fighting it out?" + +"I should never marry except for love," said Robinson. + +"Nor I neither," said Poppins. "That is, I couldn't bring myself to +put up with a hideous old hag, because she'd money. I should always +be wanting to throttle her. But as long as they're young, and soft, +and fresh, one can always love 'em;--at least I can." + +"I never loved but one," said Robinson. + +"There was a good many of them used to be pretty much the same to me. +They was all very well; but as to breaking my heart about them,--why, +it's a thing that I never understood." + +"Do you know, Poppins, what I did twice,--ay, thrice,--in those dark +days?" + +"What; when Brisket was after her?" + +"Yes; when she used to say that she loved another. Thrice did I +go down to the river bank, intending to terminate this wretched +existence." + +"Did you now?" + +"I swear to you that I did. But Providence, who foresaw the happiness +that is in store for me, withheld me from the leap." + +"Polly once took up with a sergeant, and I can't say I liked it." + +"And what did you do?" + +"I got uncommon drunk, and then I knocked the daylight out of him. +We've been the best of friends ever since. But about marrying;--if +a man is to do it, he'd better do it. It depends a good deal on the +young woman, of course, and whether she's comfortable in her mind. +Some women ain't comfortable, and then there's the devil to pay. You +don't get enough to eat, and nothing to drink; and if ever you leave +your pipe out of your pocket, she smashes it. I've know'd 'em of that +sort, and a man had better have the rheumatism constant." + +"I don't think Maryanne is like that." + +"Well; I can't say. Polly isn't. She's not over good, by no means, +and would a deal sooner sit in a arm-chair and have her victuals and +beer brought to her, than she'd break her back by working too hard. +She'd like to be always a-junketing, and that's what she's best +for,--as is the case with many of 'em." + +"I've seen her as sportive as a young fawn at the Hall of Harmony." + +"But she ain't a young fawn any longer; and as for harmony, it's my +idea that the less of harmony a young woman has the better. It makes +'em give themselves airs, and think as how their ten fingers were +made to put into yellow gloves, and that a young man hasn't nothing +to do but to stand treat, and whirl 'em about till he ain't able +to stand. A game's all very well, but bread and cheese is a deal +better." + +"I love to see beauty enjoying itself gracefully. My idea of a woman +is incompatible with the hard work of the world. I would fain do that +myself, so that she should ever be lovely." + +"But she won't be lovely a bit the more. She'll grow old all the +same, and take to drink very like. When she's got a red nose and a +pimply face, and a sharp tongue, you'd be glad enough to see her at +the wash-tub then. I remember an old song as my father used to sing, +but my mother couldn't endure to hear it. + + + Woman takes delight in abundance of pleasure, + But a man's life is to labour and toil. + + +That's about the truth of it, and that's what comes of your Halls of +Harmony." + +"You would like woman to be a household drudge." + +"So I would,--only drudge don't sound well. Call her a ministering +angel instead, and it comes to the same thing. They both of 'em +means much of a muchness;--getting up your linen decent, and seeing +that you have a bit of something hot when you come home late. Well, +good-night, old fellow. I shall have my hair combed if I stay much +longer. Take my advice, and as you mean to do it, do it at once. And +don't let the old 'un nobble all the money. Live and let live. That's +fair play all over." And so Mr. Poppins took his leave. + +Had anybody suggested to George Robinson that he should go to Poppins +for advice as to his course of life, George Robinson would have +scorned the suggestion. He knew very well the great difference +between him and his humble friend, both as regarded worldly position +and intellectual attainments. But, nevertheless, there was a strain +of wisdom in Poppins' remarks which, though it appertained wholly to +matters of low import, he did not disdain to use. It was true that +Maryanne Brown still frequented the Hall of Harmony, and went there +quite as often without her betrothed as with him. It was true that +Mr. Brown had adopted a habit of using the money of the firm, without +rendering a fair account of the purpose to which he applied it. +The Hall of Harmony might not be the best preparation for domestic +duties, nor Mr. Brown's method of applying the funds the best +specific for commercial success. He would look to both these things, +and see that some reform were made. Indeed, he would reform them both +entirely by insisting on a division of the profits, and by taking +Maryanne to his own bosom. Great ideas filled his mind. If any undue +opposition were made to his wishes when expressed, he would leave +the firm, break up the business, and carry his now well-known genius +for commercial enterprise to some other concern in which he might be +treated with a juster appreciation of his merits. + +"Not that I will ever leave thee, Maryanne," he said to himself, as +he resolved these things in his mind. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +MISTRESS MORONY. + + +It was about ten days after the conversation recorded in the last +chapter between Mr. Robinson and Mr. Poppins that an affair was +brought about through the imprudence and dishonesty of Mr. Jones, +which for some time prevented that settlement of matters on which Mr. +Robinson had resolved. During those ten days he had been occupied in +bringing his resolution to a fixed point; and then, when the day and +hour had come in which he intended to act, that event occurred which, +disgraceful as it is to the annals of the Firm, must now be told. + +There are certain small tricks of trade, well known to the lower +class of houses in that business to which Brown, Jones, and Robinson +had devoted themselves, which for a time may no doubt be profitable, +but which are very apt to bring disgrace and ruin upon those who +practise them. To such tricks as these Mr. Jones was wedded, and by +none of the arguments which he used in favour of a high moral tone +of commerce could Robinson prevail upon his partner to abandon them. +Nothing could exceed the obstinacy and blindness of Mr. Jones during +these discussions. When it was explained to him that the conduct he +was pursuing was hardly removed,--nay, it was not removed,--from +common swindling, he would reply that it was quite as honest as +Mr. Robinson's advertisements. He would quote especially those +Katakairion shirts which were obtained from Hodges, and of which the +sale at 39_s._ 6_d._ the half-dozen had by dint of a wide circulation +of notices become considerable. "If that isn't swindling, I don't +know what is," said Jones. + +"Do you know what Katakairion means?" said Robinson. + +"No; I don't," said Jones. "And I don't want to know." + +"Katakairion means 'fitting,'" said Robinson; "and the purchaser has +only to take care that the shirt he buys does fit, and then it is +Katakairion." + +"But we didn't invent them." + +"We invented the price and the name, and that's as much as anybody +does. But that is not all. It's a well-understood maxim in trade, +that a man may advertise whatever he chooses. We advertise to attract +notice, not to state facts. But it's a mean thing to pass off a false +article over the counter. If you will ticket your goods, you should +sell them according to the ticket." + +At first, the other partners had not objected to this ticketing, as +the practice is now common, and there is at first sight an apparent +honesty about it which has its seduction. A lady seeing 21_s._ 7_d._ +marked on a mantle in the window, is able to contemplate the desired +piece of goods and to compare it, in silent leisure, with her +finances. She can use all her power of eye, but, as a compensation to +the shopkeeper, is debarred from the power of touch; and then, having +satisfied herself as to the value of the thing inspected, she can go +in and buy without delay or trouble to the vendor. But it has been +found by practice that so true are the eyes of ladies that it is +useless to expose in shop-windows articles which are not good of +their kind, and cheap at the price named. To attract customers in +this way, real bargains must be exhibited; and when this is done, +ladies take advantage of the unwary tradesman, and unintended +sacrifices are made. George Robinson soon perceived this, and +suggested that the ticketing should be abandoned. Jones, however, +persevered, observing that he knew how to remedy the evil inherent +in the system. Hence difficulties arose, and, ultimately, disgrace, +which was very injurious to the Firm, and went near to break the +heart of Mr. Brown. + +According to Jones's plan, the articles ticketed in the window were +not, under any circumstances, to be sold. The shopmen, indeed, were +forbidden to remove them from their positions under any entreaties or +threats from the customers. The customer was to be at first informed, +with all the blandishment at the shopman's command, that the goods +furnished within the shop were exact counterparts of those exposed. +Then the shopman was to argue that the arrangements of the window +could not be disturbed. And should a persistent purchaser after that +insist on a supposed legal right, to buy the very thing ticketed, +Mr. Jones was to be called; in which case Mr. Jones would inform the +persistent purchaser that she was regarded as unreasonable, violent, +and disagreeable; and that, under such circumstances, her custom +was not wanted by Brown, Jones, and Robinson. The disappointed +female would generally leave the shop with some loud remarks as to +swindling, dishonesty, and pettifogging, to which Mr. Jones could +turn a deaf ear. But sometimes worse than this would ensue; ladies +would insist on their rights; scrambles would occur in order that +possession of the article might be obtained; the assistants in the +shop would not always take part with Mr. Jones; and, as has been +before said, serious difficulties would arise. + +There can be no doubt that Jones was very wrong. He usually was +wrong. His ideas of trade were mean, limited, and altogether +inappropriate to business on a large scale. But, nevertheless, we +cannot pass on to the narration of a circumstance as it did occur, +without expressing our strong abhorrence of those ladies who are +desirous of purchasing cheap goods to the manifest injury of the +tradesmen from whom they buy them. The ticketing of goods at prices +below their value is not to our taste, but the purchasing of such +goods is less so. The lady who will take advantage of a tradesman, +that she may fill her house with linen, or cover her back with +finery, at his cost, and in a manner which her own means would +not fairly permit, is, in our estimation,--a robber. It is often +necessary that tradesmen should advertise tremendous sacrifices. +It is sometimes necessary that they should actually make such +sacrifices. Brown, Jones, and Robinson have during their career +been driven to such a necessity. They have smiled upon their female +customers, using their sweetest blandishments, while those female +customers have abstracted their goods at prices almost nominal. +Brown, Jones, and Robinson, in forcing such sales, have been coerced +by the necessary laws of trade; but while smiling with all their +blandishments, they have known that the ladies on whom they have +smiled have been--robbers. + +Why is it that commercial honesty has so seldom charms for women? A +woman who would give away the last shawl from her back will insist on +smuggling her gloves through the Custom-house! Who can make a widow +understand that she should not communicate with her boy in the +colonies under the dishonest cover of a newspaper? Is not the passion +for cheap purchases altogether a female mania? And yet every cheap +purchase,--every purchase made at a rate so cheap as to deny the +vendor his fair profit is, in truth, a dishonesty;--a dishonesty to +which the purchaser is indirectly a party. Would that women could be +taught to hate bargains! How much less useless trash would there be +in our houses, and how much fewer tremendous sacrifices in our shops! + +Brown, Jones, and Robinson, when they had been established some six +or eight months, had managed to procure from a house in the silk +trade a few black silk mantles of a very superior description. The +lot had been a remnant, and had been obtained with sundry other goods +at a low figure. But, nevertheless, the proper price at which the +house could afford to sell them would exceed the mark of general +purchasers in Bishopsgate Street. These came into Mr. Jones' hands, +and he immediately resolved to use them for the purposes of the +window. Some half-dozen of them were very tastefully arranged upon +racks, and were marked at prices which were very tempting to ladies +of discernment. In the middle of one window there was a copious +mantle, of silk so thick that it stood almost alone, very full in +its dimensions, and admirable in its fashion. This mantle, which +would not have been dearly bought for 3_l._ 10_s._ or 4_l._, was +injudiciously ticketed at 38_s._ 11-1/2_d._ "It will bring dozens of +women to the shop," said Jones, "and we have an article of the same +shape and colour, which we can do at that price uncommonly well." +Whether or no the mantle had brought dozens of women into the shop, +cannot now be said, but it certainly brought one there whom Brown, +Jones, and Robinson will long remember. + +Mrs. Morony was an Irishwoman who, as she assured the magistrates in +Worship Street, had lived in the very highest circles in Limerick, +and had come from a princely stock in the neighbouring county of +Glare. She was a full-sized lady, not without a certain amount +of good looks, though at the period of her intended purchase in +Bishopsgate Street, she must have been nearer fifty than forty. Her +face was florid, if not red, her arms were thick and powerful, her +eyes were bright, but, as seen by Brown, Jones, and Robinson, not +pleasant to the view, and she always carried with her an air of +undaunted resolution. When she entered the shop, she was accompanied +by a thin, acrid, unmarried female friend, whose feminine charms by +no means equalled her own. She might be of about the same age, but +she had more of the air and manner of advanced years. Her nose was +long, narrow and red; her eyes were set very near together; she was +tall and skimpy in all her proportions; and her name was Miss Biles. +Of the name and station of Mrs. Morony, or of Miss Biles, nothing +was of course known when they entered the shop; but with all these +circumstances, B., J., and R. were afterwards made acquainted. + +"I believe I'll just look at that pelisse, if you plaze," said Mrs. +Morony, addressing herself to a young man who stood near to the +window in which the mantle was displayed. + +"Certainly, ma'am," said the man. "If you'll step this way, I'll show +you the article." + +"I see the article there," said Mrs. Morony, poking at it with her +parasol. Standing where she did she was just able to touch it in this +way. "That's the one I mane, with the price;--how much was it, Miss +Biles?" + +"One, eighteen, eleven and a halfpenny," said Miss Biles, who had +learned the figures by heart before she ventured to enter the shop. + +"If you'll do me the favour to step this way I'll show you the same +article," said the man, who was now aware that it was his first duty +to get the ladies away from that neighbourhood. + +But Mrs. Morony did not move. "It's the one there that I'm asking +ye for," said she, pointing again, and pointing this time with the +hooked end of her parasol. "I'll throuble ye, young man, to show me +the article with the ticket." + +"The identical pelisse, if you please, sir," said Miss Biles, "which +you there advertise as for sale at one, eighteen, eleven and a +halfpenny." And then she pressed her lips together, and looked at the +shopman with such vehemence that her two eyes seemed to grow into +one. + +The poor man knew that he was in a difficulty, and cast his eyes +across the shop for assistance. Jones, who in his own branch was ever +on the watch,--and let praise for that diligence be duly given to +him,--had seen from the first what was in the wind. From the moment +in which the stout lady had raised her parasol he felt that a battle +was imminent; but he had thought it prudent to abstain awhile from +the combat himself. He hovered near, however, as personal protection +might be needed on behalf of the favourite ornament of his window. + +"I'll throuble you, if you plaze, sir, to raich me that pelisse," +said Mrs. Morony. + +"We never disturb our window," said the man, "but we keep the same +article in the shop." + +"Don't you be took in by that, Mrs. Morony," said Miss Biles. + +"I don't mane," said Mrs. Morony. "I shall insist, sir--" + +Now was the moment in which, as Jones felt, the interference of the +general himself was necessary. Mrs. Morony was in the act of turning +herself well round towards the window, so as to make herself sure +of her prey when she should resolve on grasping it. Miss Biles had +already her purse in her hand, ready to pay the legal claim. It was +clear to be seen that the enemy was of no mean skill and of great +valour. The intimidation of Mrs. Morony might be regarded as a feat +beyond the power of man. Her florid countenance had already become +more than ordinarily rubicund, and her nostrils were breathing anger. + +"Ma'am," said Mr. Jones, stepping up and ineffectually attempting to +interpose himself between her and the low barrier which protected +the goods exposed to view, "the young man has already told you that +we cannot disarrange the window. It is not our habit to do so. If +you will do me the honour to walk to a chair, he shall show you any +articles which you may desire to inspect." + +"Don't you be done," whispered Miss Biles. + +"I don't mane, if I know it," said Mrs. Morony, standing her ground +manfully. "I don't desire to inspect anything,--only that pelisse." + +"I am sorry that we cannot gratify you," said Mr. Jones. + +"But you must gratify me. It's for sale, and the money's on it." + +"You shall have the same article at the same price;" and Mr. Jones, +as he spoke, endeavoured to press the lady out of her position. "But +positively you cannot have that. We never break through our rules." + +"Chaiting the public is the chief of your rules, I'm thinking," said +Mrs. Morony; "but you'll not find it so aisy to chait me. Pay them +the money down on the counter, Miss Biles, dear." And so saying she +thrust forth her parasol, and succeeded in her attempt to dislodge +the prey. Knowing well where to strike her blow and obtain a hold, +she dragged forth the mantle, and almost got it into her left hand. +But Jones could not stand by and see his firm thus robbed. Dreadful +as was his foe in spirit, size, and strength, his manliness was too +great for this. So he also dashed forward, and was the first to grasp +the silk. + +"Are you going to rob the shop?" said he. + +"Is it rob?" said Mrs. Morony. "By the powers, thin, ye're the +biggest blag-guard my eyes have seen since I've been in London, and +that's saying a long word. Is it rob to me? I'll tell you what it is, +young man,--av you don't let your fingers off this pelisse that I've +purchased, I'll have you before the magisthrates for stailing it. +Have you paid the money down, dear?" + +Miss Biles was busy counting out the cash, but no one was at hand to +take it from her. It was clear that the two confederates had prepared +themselves at all points for the contest, having, no doubt, more than +once inspected the article from the outside,--for Miss Biles had +the exact sum ready, done to the odd halfpenny. "There," said she, +appealing to the young man who was nearest to her, "one, eighteen, +eleven, and a halfpenny." But the young man was deaf to the charmer, +even though she charmed with ready money. "May I trouble you to see +that the cash is right." But the young man would not be troubled. + +"You'd a deal better leave it go, ma'am," said Jones, "or I shall be +obliged to send for the police." + +"Is it the police? Faith, thin, and I think you'd better send! Give +me my mantilla, I say. It's bought and paid for at your own price." + +By this time there was a crowd in the shop, and Jones, in his anxiety +to defend the establishment, had closed with Mrs. Morony, and was, +as it were, wrestling with her. His effort, no doubt, had been to +disengage her hand from the unfortunate mantle; but in doing so, he +was led into some slight personal violence towards the lady. And now +Miss Biles, having deposited her money, attacked him from behind, +declaring that her friend would be murdered. + +"Come, hands off. A woman's a woman always!" said one of the crowd +who had gathered round them. + +"What does the man mean by hauling a female about that way?" said +another. + +"The poor crathur's nigh murthered wid him intirely," said a +countrywoman from the street. + +"If she's bought the thingumbob at your own price, why don't you give +it her?" asked a fourth. + +"I'll be hanged if she shall have it!" said Jones, panting for +breath. He was by no means deficient in spirit on such an occasion as +this. + +"And it's my belief you will be hanged," said Miss Biles, who was +still working away at his back. + +The scene was one which was not creditable to the shop of English +tradesmen in the nineteenth century. The young men and girls had come +round from behind the counter, but they made no attempt to separate +the combatants. Mr. Jones was not loved among them, and the chance of +war seemed to run very much in favour of the lady. One discreet youth +had gone out in quest of a policeman, but he was not successful in +his search till he had walked half a mile from the door. Mr. Jones +was at last nearly smothered in the encounter, for the great weight +and ample drapery of Mrs. Morony were beginning to tell upon him. +When she got his back against the counter, it was as though a feather +bed was upon him. In the meantime the unfortunate mantle had fared +badly between them, and was now not worth the purchase-money which, +but ten minutes since, had been so eagerly tendered for it. + +Things were in this state when Mr. Brown slowly descended into the +arena, while George Robinson, standing at the distant doorway in the +back, looked on with blushing cheeks. One of the girls had explained +to Mr. Brown what was the state of affairs, and he immediately +attempted to throw oil on the troubled waters. + +"Wherefore all this noise?" he said, raising both his hands as he +advanced slowly to the spot. "Mr. Jones, I implore you to desist!" +But Mr. Jones was wedged down upon the counter, and could not desist. + +"Madam, what can I do for you?" And he addressed himself to the back +of Mrs. Marony, which was still convulsed violently by her efforts to +pummel Mr. Jones. + +"I believe he's well nigh killed her; I believe he has," said Miss +Biles. + +Then, at last, the discreet youth returned with three policemen, and +the fight was at an end. That the victory was with Mrs. Morony nobody +could doubt. She held in her hand all but the smallest fragment of +the mantle,--the price of which, however, Miss Biles had been careful +to repocket,--and showed no sign of exhaustion, whereas Jones was +speechless. But, nevertheless, she was in tears, and appealed loudly +to the police and to the crowd as to her wrongs. + +"I'm fairly murthered with him, thin, so I am,--the baist, the +villain, the swindhler. What am I to do at all, and my things all +desthroyed? Look at this, thin!" and she held up the cause of war. +"Did mortial man iver see the like of that? And I'm beaten black and +blue wid him,--so I am." And then she sobbed violently. + +"So you are, Mrs. Morony," said Miss Biles. "He to call himself a man +indeed, and to go to strike a woman!" + +"It's thrue for you, dear," continued Mrs. Morony. "Policemen, mind, +I give him in charge. You're all witnesses, I give that man in +charge." + +Mr. Jones, also, was very eager to secure the intervention of the +police,--much more so than was Mr. Brown, who was only anxious that +everybody should retire. Mr. Jones could never be made to understand +that he had in any way been wrong. "A firm needn't sell an article +unless it pleases," he argued to the magistrate. "A firm is bound +to make good its promises, sir," replied the gentleman in Worship +Street. "And no respectable firm would for a moment hesitate to do +so." And then he made some remarks of a very severe nature. + +Mr. Brown did all that he could to prevent the affair from becoming +public. He attempted to bribe Mrs. Morony by presenting her with +the torn mantle; but she accepted the gift, and then preferred her +complaint. He bribed the policemen, also; but, nevertheless, the +matter got into the newspaper reports. The daily Jupiter, of course, +took it up,--for what does it not take up in its solicitude for poor +British human nature?--and tore Brown, Jones, and Robinson to pieces +in a leading article. No punishment could be inflicted on the firm, +for, as the magistrate said, no offence could be proved. The lady, +also, had certainly been wrong to help herself. But the whole affair +was damaging in the extreme to Magenta House, and gave a terrible +check to that rapid trade which had already sprang up under the +influence of an extended system of advertising. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +MISS BROWN NAMES THE DAY. + + +George Robinson had been in the very act of coming to an +understanding with Mr. Brown as to the proceeds of the business, when +he was interrupted by that terrible affair of Mrs. Morony. For some +days after that the whole establishment was engaged in thinking, +talking, and giving evidence about the matter, and it was all that +the firm could do to keep the retail trade going across the counter. +Some of the young men and women gave notice, and went away; and +others became so indifferent that it was necessary to get rid of +them. For a week it was doubtful whether it would be possible to +keep the house open, and during that week Mr. Brown was so paralyzed +by his feelings that he was unable to give any assistance. He sat +upstairs moaning, accompanied generally by his two daughters; and +he sent a medical certificate to Worship Street, testifying his +inability to appear before the magistrate. From what transpired +afterwards we may say that the magistrate would have treated him more +leniently than did the young women. They were aware that whatever +money yet remained was in his keeping; and now, as at the time of +their mother's death, it seemed fitting to them that a division +should be made of the spoils. + +"George," he said one evening to his junior partner, "I'd like to be +laid decent in Kensal Green! I know it will come to that soon." + +Robinson hereupon reminded him that care had killed a cat; and +promised him all manner of commercial greatness if he could only +rouse himself to his work. "The career of a merchant prince is still +open to you," said Robinson, enthusiastically. + +"Not along with Maryanne and Sarah Jane, George!" + +"Sarah Jane is a married woman, and sits at another man's hearth. Why +do you allow her to trouble you?" + +"She is my child, George. A man can't deny himself to his child. At +least I could not. And I don't want to be a merchant prince. If I +could only have a little place of my own, that was my own; and where +they wouldn't always be nagging after money when they come to see +me." + +Poor Mr. Brown! He was asking from the fairies that for which we are +all asking,--for which men have ever asked. He merely desired the +comforts of the world, without its cares. He wanted his small farm of +a few acres, as Horace wanted it, and Cincinnatus, and thousands of +statesmen, soldiers, and merchants, from their days down to ours; his +small farm, on which, however, the sun must always shine, and where +no weeds should flourish. Poor Mr. Brown! Such little farms for +the comforts of old age can only be attained by long and unwearied +cultivation during the years of youth and manhood. + +It was on one occasion such as this, not very long after the affair +of Mrs. Morony, that Robinson pressed very eagerly upon Mr. Brown the +special necessity which demanded from the firm at the present moment +more than ordinary efforts in the way of advertisement. + +"Jones has given us a great blow," said Robinson. + +"I fear he has," said Mr. Brown. + +"And now, if we do not put our best foot forward it will be all up +with us. If we flag now, people will see that we are down. But if we +go on with audacity, all those reports will die away, and we shall +again trick our beams, and flame once more in the morning sky." + +It may be presumed that Mr. Brown did not exactly follow the +quotation, but the eloquence of Robinson had its desired effect. Mr. +Brown did at last produce a sum of five hundred pounds, with which +printers, stationers, and advertising agents were paid or partially +paid, and Robinson again went to work. + +"It's the last," said Mr. Brown, with a low moan, "and would have +been Maryanne's!" + +Robinson, when he heard this, was much struck by the old man's +enduring courage. How had he been able to preserve this sum from the +young woman's hands, pressed as he had been by her and by Brisket? Of +this Robinson said nothing, but he did venture to allude to the fact +that the money must, in fact, belong to the firm. + +This is here mentioned chiefly as showing the reason why Robinson did +not for awhile renew the business on which he was engaged when Mrs. +Morony's presence in the shop was announced. He felt that no private +matter should be allowed for a time to interfere with his renewed +exertions; and he also felt that as Mr. Brown had responded to his +entreaties in that matter of the five hundred pounds, it would not +become him to attack the old man again immediately. For three months +he applied himself solely to business; and then, when affairs had +partially been restored under his guidance, he again resolved, under +the further instigation of Poppins, to put things at once on a proper +footing. + +"So you ain't spliced yet," said Poppins. + +"No, not yet." + +"Nor won't be,--not to Maryanne Brown. There was my wife at +Brisket's, in Aldersgate Street, yesterday, and we all know what that +means." + +"What does it mean?" demanded Robinson, scowling fearfully. "Would +you hint to me that she is false?" + +"False! No! she's not false that I know of. She's ready enough to +have you, if you can put yourself right with the old man. But if +you can't,--why, of course, she's not to wait till her hair's grey. +She and Polly are as thick as thieves, and so Polly has been to +Aldersgate Street. Polly says that the Jones's are getting their +money regularly out of the till." + +"Wait till her hair be grey!" said Robinson, when he was left to +himself. "Do I wish her to wait? Would I not stand with her at the +altar to-morrow, though my last half-crown should go to the greedy +priest who joined us? And she has sent her friend to Aldersgate +Street,--to my rival! There must, at any rate, be an end of this!" + +Late on that evening, when his work was over, he took a glass of hot +brandy-and-water at the "Four Swans," and then he waited upon Mr. +Brown. He luckily found the senior partner alone. "Mr. Brown," said +he, "I've come to have a little private conversation." + +"Private, George! Well, I'm all alone. Maryanne is with Mrs. Poppins, +I think." + +With Mrs. Poppins! Yes; and where might she not be with Mrs. Poppins? +Robinson felt that he had it within him at that moment to start +off for Aldersgate Street. "But first to business," said he, as he +remembered the special object for which he had come. + +"For the present it is well that she should be away," he said. "Mr. +Brown, the time has now come at which it is absolutely necessary that +I should know where I am." + +"Where you are, George?" + +"Yes; on what ground I stand. Who I am before the world, and what +interest I represent. Is it the fact that I am the junior partner in +the house of Brown, Jones, and Robinson?" + +"Why, George, of course you are." + +"And is it the fact that by the deed of partnership drawn up between +us, I am entitled to receive one quarter of the proceeds of the +business?" + +"No, George, no; not proceeds." + +"What then?" + +"Profits, George; one quarter of the profits." + +"And what is my share for the year now over?" + +"You have lived, George; you must always remember that. It is a great +thing in itself even to live out of a trade in these days. You have +lived; you must acknowledge that." + +"Mr. Brown, I am not a greedy man, nor a suspicious man, nor an idle +man, nor a man of pleasure. But I am a man in love." + +"And she shall be yours, George." + +"Ay, sir, that is easily said. She shall be mine, and in order that +she may be mine, I must request to know what is accurately the state +of our account?" + +"George," said Mr. Brown in a piteous accent, "you and I have always +been friends." + +"But there are those who will do much for their enemies out of fear, +though they will do nothing for their friends out of love. Jones has +a regular income out of the business." + +"Only forty shillings or so on every Saturday night; nothing more, on +my honour. And then they've babbies, you know, and they must live." + +"By the terms of our partnership I am entitled to as much as he." + +"But then, George, suppose that nobody is entitled to nothing! +Suppose there is no profits. We all must live, you know, but then +it's only hand to mouth; is it?" + +How terrible was this statement as to the affairs of the firm, +coming, as it did, from the senior partner, who not more than twelve +months since entered the business with a sum of four thousand pounds +in hard cash! Robinson, whose natural spirit in such matters was +sanguine and buoyant, felt that even he was depressed. Had four +thousand pounds gone, and was there no profit? He knew well that the +stock on hand would not even pay the debts that were due. The shop +had always been full, and the men and women at the counter had always +been busy. The books had nominally been kept by himself; but who can +keep the books of a concern, if he be left in ignorance as to the +outgoings and incomings? + +"That comes of attempting to do business on a basis of capital!" he +said in a voice of anger. + +"It comes of advertising, George. It comes of little silver books, +and big wooden stockings, and men in armour, and cats-carrion shirts; +that's what it's come from, George." + +"Never," said Robinson, rising from his chair with energetic action. +"Never. You may as well tell me that the needle does not point to the +pole, that the planets have not their appointed courses, that the +swelling river does not run to the sea. There are facts as to which +the world has ceased to dispute, and this is one of them. Advertise, +advertise, advertise! It may be that we have fallen short in our +duty; but the performance of a duty can never do an injury." In reply +to this, old Brown merely shook his head. "Do you know what Barlywig +has spent on his physic; Barlywig's Medean Potion? Forty thousand +a-year for the last ten years, and now Barlywig is worth;--I don't +know what Barlywig is worth; but I know he is in Parliament." + +"We haven't stuff to go on like that, George." In answer to this, +Robinson knew not what to urge, but he did know that his system was +right. + +At this moment the door was opened, and Maryanne Brown entered the +room. "Father," she said, as soon as her foot was over the threshold +of the door; but then seeing that Mr. Brown was not alone, she +stopped herself. There was an angry spot on her cheeks, and it was +manifest from the tone of her voice that she was about to address her +father in anger. "Oh, George; so you are there, are you? I suppose +you came, because you knew I was out." + +"I came, Maryanne," said he, putting out his hand to her, "I came--to +settle our wedding day." + +"My children, my children!" said Mr. Brown. + +"That's all very fine," said Maryanne; "but I've heard so much about +wedding days, that I'm sick of it, and don't mean to have none." + +"What; you will never be a bride?" + +"No; I won't. What's the use?" + +"You shall be my bride;--to-morrow if you will." + +"I'll tell you what it is, George Robinson; my belief of you is, that +you are that soft, a man might steal away your toes without your feet +missing 'em." + +"You have stolen away my heart, and my body is all the lighter." + +"It's light enough; there's no doubt of that, and so is your head. +Your heels too were, once, but you've given up that." + +"Yes, Maryanne. When a man commences the stern realities of life, +that must be abandoned. But now I am anxious to commence a reality +which is not stern,--that reality which is for me to soften all the +hardness of this hardworking world. Maryanne, when shall be our +wedding day?" + +For a while the fair beauty was coy, and would give no decisive +answer; but at length under the united pressure of her father and +lover, a day was named. A day was named, and Mr. Brown's consent to +that day was obtained; but this arrangement was not made till he had +undertaken to give up the rooms in which he at present lived, and to +go into lodgings in the neighbourhood. + +"George," said she, in a confidential whisper, before the evening was +over, "if you don't manage about the cash now, and have it all your +own way, you must be soft." Under the influence of gratified love, he +promised her that he would manage it. + +"Bless you, my children, bless you," said Mr. Brown, as they parted +for the night. "Bless you, and may your loves be lasting, and your +children obedient." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +SHOWING HOW ROBINSON WALKED UPON ROSES. + + +"Will it ever be said of me when my history is told that I spent +forty thousand pounds a-year in advertising a single article? Would +that it might be told that I had spent ten times forty thousand." It +was thus that Robinson had once spoken to his friend Poppins, while +some remnant of that five hundred pounds was still in his hands. + +"But what good does it do? It don't make anything." + +"But it sells them, Poppins." + +"Everybody wears a shirt, and no one wears more than one at a time. I +don't see that it does any good." + +"It is a magnificent trade in itself. Would that I had a monopoly of +all the walls in London! The very arches of the bridges must be worth +ten thousand a-year. The omnibuses are invaluable; the cabs are a +mine of wealth; and the railway stations throughout England would +give a revenue for an emperor. Poppins, my dear fellow, I fancy that +you have hardly looked into the depths of it." + +"Perhaps not," said Poppins. "Some objects to them that they're all +lies. It isn't that I mind. As far as I can see, everything is mostly +lies. The very worst article our people can get for sale, they call +'middlings;' the real middlings are 'very superior,' and so on. +They're all lies; but they don't cost anything, and all the world +knows what they mean. Bad things must be bought and sold, and if +we said our things was bad, nobody would buy them. But I can't +understand throwing away so much money and getting nothing." + +Poppins possessed a glimmering of light, but it was only a +glimmering. He could understand that a man should not call his own +goods middling; but he could not understand that a man is only +carrying out the same principle in an advanced degree, when he +proclaims with a hundred thousand voices in a hundred thousand +places, that the article which he desires to sell is the best of +its kind that the world has yet produced. He merely asserts with +his loudest voice that his middlings are not middlings. A little +man can see that he must not cry stinking fish against himself; +but it requires a great man to understand that in order to abstain +effectually from so suicidal a proclamation, he must declare with +all the voice of his lungs, that his fish are that moment hardly out +of the ocean. "It's the poetry of euphemism," Robinson once said to +Poppins;--but he might as well have talked Greek to him. + +Robinson often complained that no one understood him; but he forgot +that it is the fate of great men generally to work alone, and to +be not comprehended. The higher a man raises his head, the more +necessary is it that he should learn to lean only on his own +strength, and to walk his path without even the assistance of +sympathy. The greedy Jones had friends. Poppins with his easy +epicurean laisser aller,--he had friends. The decent Brown, who would +so fain be comfortable, had friends. But for Robinson, there was no +one on whose shoulder he could rest his head, and from whose heart +and voice he could receive sympathy and encouragement. + +From one congenial soul,--from one soul that he had hoped to +find congenial,--he did look for solace; but even here he was +disappointed. It has been told that Maryanne Brown did at last +consent to name the day. This occurred in May, and the day named was +in August. Robinson was very anxious to fix it at an earlier period, +and the good-natured girl would have consented to arrange everything +within a fortnight. "What's the use of shilly-shallying?" said she +to her father. "If it is to be done, let it be done at once. I'm so +knocked about among you, I hardly know where I am." But Mr. Brown +would not consent. Mr. Brown was very feeble, but yet he was very +obstinate. It would often seem that he was beaten away from his +purpose, and yet he would hang on it with more tenacity than that of +a stronger man. "Town is empty in August, George, and then you can be +spared for a run to Margate for two or three days." + +"Oh, we don't want any nonsense," said Maryanne; "do we, George?" + +"All I want is your own self," said Robinson. + +"Then you won't mind going into lodgings for a few months," said +Brown. + +Robinson would have put up with an attic, had she he loved consented +to spread her bridal couch so humbly; but Maryanne declared with +resolution that she would not marry till she saw herself in +possession of the rooms over the shop. + +"There'll be room for us all for awhile," said old Brown. + +"I think we might manage," said George. + +"I know a trick worth two of that," said the lady. "Who's to make pa +go when once we begin in that way? As I mean to end, so I'll begin. +And as for you, George, there's no end to your softness. You're that +green, that the very cows would eat you." Was it not well said by +Mr. Robinson in his preface to these memoirs, that the poor old +commercial Lear, whose name stood at the head of the firm, was cursed +with a Goneril,--and with a Regan? + +But nothing would induce Mr. Brown to leave his home, or to say that +he would leave his home, before the middle of August, and thus the +happy day was postponed till that time. + +"There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip," said Poppins, +when he was told. "Do you take care that she and Polly ain't off to +Aldersgate Street together." + +"Poppins, I wouldn't be cursed with your ideas of human nature,--not +for a free use of all the stations on the North Western. Go to +Aldersgate Street now that she is my affianced bride!" + +"That's gammon," said Poppins. "When once she's married she'll go +straight enough. I believe that of her, for she knows which side her +bread's buttered. But till the splice is made she's a right to please +herself; that's the way she looks at it." + +"And will it not please her to become mine?" + +"It's about the same with 'em all," continued Poppins. "My Polly +would have been at Hong Kong with the Buffs by this time, if I hadn't +knocked the daylight out of that sergeant." And Poppins, from the +tone in which he spoke of his own deeds, seemed to look back upon his +feat of valour with less satisfaction than it had given him at the +moment. Polly was his own certainly; but the comfort of his small +menage was somewhat disturbed by his increasing family. + +But to return. Robinson, as we have said, looked in vain to his +future partner in life for a full appreciation of his own views as to +commerce. "It's all very well, I daresay," said she; "but one should +feel one's way." + +"When you launch your ship into the sea," he replied, "you do not +want to feel your way. You know that the waves will bear her up, and +you send her forth boldly. As wood will float upon water, so will +commerce float on the ocean streams of advertisement." + +"But if you ran aground in the mud, where are you then? Do you take +care, George, or your boat 'll be water-logged." + +It was during some of these conversations that Delilah cut another +lock of hair from Samson's head, and induced him to confess that he +had obtained that sum of five hundred pounds from her father, and +spent it among those who prepared for him his advertisements. "No!" +said she, jumping up from her seat. "Then he had it after all?" + +"Yes; he certainly had it." + +"Well, that passes. And after all he said!" + +A glimmering of the truth struck coldly upon Robinson's heart. She +had endeavoured to get from her father this sum and had failed. She +had failed, and the old man had sworn to her that he had it not. But +for what purpose had she so eagerly demanded it? "Maryanne," he said, +"if you love another more fondly than you love me--" + +"Don't bother about love, George, now. And so you got it out of him +and sent it all flying after the rest. I didn't think you were that +powerful." + +"The money, Maryanne, belonged to the firm." + +"Gracious knows who it belongs to now. But, laws;--when I think of +all that he said, it's quite dreadful. One can't believe a word that +comes out of his mouth." + +Robinson also thought that it was quite dreadful when he reflected +on all that she must have said before she had given up the task as +helpless. Then, too, an idea came upon him of what he might have to +endure when he and she should be one bone and one flesh. How charming +was she to the eyes! how luxuriously attractive, when in her softer +moments she would laugh, and smile, and joke at the winged hours +as they passed! But already was he almost afraid of her voice, and +already did he dread the fiercer glances of her eyes. Was he wise in +this that he was doing? Had he not one bride in commerce, a bride +that would never scold; and would it not be well for him to trust +his happiness to her alone? So he argued within his own breast. But +nevertheless, Love was still the lord of all. + +"And the money's all gone?" said Maryanne. + +"Indeed it is. Would I had as many thousands to send after it." + +"It was like your folly, George, not to keep a little of it by you, +knowing how comfortable it would have been for us at the beginning." + +"But, my darling, it belonged to the firm." + +"The firm! Arn't they all helping themselves hand over hand, except +you? There was Sarah Jane in the shop behind the counter all +yesterday afternoon. Now, I tell you what it is; if she's to come in +I won't stand it. She's not there for nothing, and she with children +at home. No wonder she can keep a nursemaid, if that's where she +spends her time. If you would go down more into the shop, George, and +write less of them little books in verse, it would be better for us +all." + +And so the time passed on towards August, and the fifteenth of that +month still remained fixed as the happy day. Robinson spent some +portion of this time in establishing a method of advertisement, which +he flattered himself was altogether new; but it must be admitted in +these pages that his means for carrying it out were not sufficient. +In accordance with this project it would have been necessary to +secure the co-operation of all the tailors' foremen in London, and +this could not be done without a douceur to the men. His idea was, +that for a period of a month in the heart of the London season, no +new coat should be sent home to any gentleman without containing in +the pocket one of those alluring little silver books, put out by +Brown, Jones, and Robinson. + +"The thing is, to get them opened and looked at," said Robinson. +"Now, I put it to you, Poppins, whether you wouldn't open a book like +that if you found that somebody had put it into your tail coat." + +"Well, I should open it." + +"You would be more or less than mortal did you not? If it's thrown +into your cab, you throw it out. If a man hands it to you in the +street, you drop it. If it comes by post, you throw it into the +waste-paper basket. But I'll defy the sternest or the idlest man not +to open the leaves of such a work as that when he first takes it out +of his new dress-coat. Surprise will make him do so. Why should his +tailor send him the book of B., J., and R.? There must be something +in it. The name of B., J., and R., becomes fixed in his memory, and +then the work is done. If the tailors had been true to me, I might +have defied the world." But the tailors were not true to him. + +During all this time nothing was heard of Brisket. It could not be +doubted that Brisket, busy among his bullocks in Aldersgate Street, +knew well what was passing among the Browns in Bishopsgate Street. +Once or twice it occurred to Robinson that the young women, Maryanne +namely and Mrs. Poppins, expected some intervention from the butcher. +Was it possible that Mr. Brisket might be expected to entertain less +mercenary ideas when he found that his prize was really to be carried +off by another? But whatever may have been the expectations of the +ladies, Brisket made no sign. He hadn't seen his way, and therefore +he had retired from the path of love. + +But Brisket, even though he did not see his way, was open to female +seduction. Why was it, that at this eventful period of Robinson's +existence Mrs. Poppins should have turned against him? Why his old +friend, Polly Twizzle, should have gone over to his rival, Robinson +never knew. It may have been because, in his humble way, Poppins +himself stood firmly by his friend; for such often is the nature of +women. Be that as it may, Mrs. Poppins, who is now again his fast +friend, was then his enemy. + +"We shall have to go to this wedding of George's," Poppins said +to his wife, when the first week in August had already passed. "I +suppose old Pikes 'ill give me a morning." Old Pikes was a partner in +the house to which Mr. Poppins was attached. + +"I shan't buy my bonnet yet awhile," said Mrs. Poppins. + +"And why not, Polly?" + +"For reasons that I know of." + +"But what reasons?" + +"You men are always half blind, and t'other half stupid. Don't you +see that she's not going to have him?" + +"She must be pretty sharp changing her mind, then. Here's Tuesday +already, and next Tuesday is to be the day." + +"Then it won't be next Tuesday; nor yet any Tuesday this month. +Brisket's after her again." + +"I don't believe it, Polly." + +"Then disbelieve it. I was with him yesterday, and I'll tell you who +was there before me;--only don't you go to Robinson and say I said +so." + +"If I can't make sport, I shan't spoil none," said Poppins. + +"Well, Jones was there. Jones was with Brisket, and Jones told him +that if he'd come forward now he should have a hundred down, and a +promise from the firm for the rest of it." + +"Then Jones is a scoundrel." + +"I don't know about that," said Mrs. Poppins. "Maryanne is his wife's +sister, and he's bound to do the best he can by her. Brisket is a +deal steadier man than Georgy Robinson, and won't have to look for +his bread so soon, I'm thinking." + +"He hasn't half the brains," said Poppins. + +"Brains is like soft words; they won't butter no parsnips." + +"And you've been with Brisket?" said the husband. + +"Yes; why not? Brisket and I was always friends. I'm not going to +quarrel with Brisket because Georgy Robinson is afraid of him. I knew +how it would be with Robinson when he didn't stand up to Brisket that +night at the Hall of Harmony. What's a man worth if he won't stand up +for his young woman? If you hadn't stood up for me I wouldn't have +had you." And so ended that conversation. + +"A hundred pounds down?" said Brisket to Jones the next day. + +"Yes, and our bill for the remainder." + +"The cash on the nail." + +"Paid into your hand," said Jones. + +"I think I should see my way," said Brisket; "at any rate I'll come +up on Saturday." + +"Much better say to-morrow, or Friday." + +"Can't. It's little Gogham Fair on Friday; and I always kills on +Thursday." + +"Saturday will be very late." + +"There'll be time enough if you've got the money ready. You've spoken +to old Brown, I suppose. I'll be up as soon after six on Saturday +evening as I can come. If Maryanne wants to see me, she'll find me +here. It won't be the first time." + +Thus was it that among his enemies the happiness of Robinson's life +was destroyed. Against Brisket he breathes not a word. The course was +open to both of them; and if Brisket was the best horse, why, let him +win! + +But in what words would it be right to depict the conduct of Jones? + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +A TEA-PARTY IN BISHOPSGATE STREET. + + +If it shall appear to those who read these memoirs that there was +much in the conduct of Mr. Brown which deserves censure, let them +also remember how much there was in his position which demands pity. +In this short narrative it has been our purpose to set forth the +commercial doings of the house of Brown, Jones, and Robinson, rather +than the domestic life of the partners, and, therefore, it has been +impossible to tell of all the trials through which Mr. Brown passed +with his children. But those trials were very severe, and if Mr. +Brown was on certain points untrue to the young partner who trusted +him, allowances for such untruth must be made. He was untrue; but +there is one man, who, looking back upon his conduct, knows how to +forgive it. + +The scenes upstairs at Magenta House during that first week in August +had been very terrible. Mr. Brown, in his anxiety to see his daughter +settled, had undoubtedly pledged himself to abandon the rooms in +which he lived, and to take lodgings elsewhere. To this promised +self-sacrifice Maryanne was resolved to keep him bound; and when some +hesitation appeared on his part, she swore to him that nothing should +induce her to become Mrs. Robinson till he had packed his things +and was gone. Mr. Brown had a heart to feel, and at this moment he +could have told how much sharper than a serpent's tooth is a child's +ingratitude! + +But he would have gone; he would have left the house, although he had +begun to comprehend that in leaving it he must probably lose much of +his authority over the money taken in the shop; he would, however, +have done so, had not Mrs. Jones come down upon him with the whole +force of her tongue, and the full violence of her malice. When +Robinson should have become one with Maryanne Brown, and should also +have become the resident partner, then would the influence of Mrs. +Jones in that establishment have been brought to a speedy close. + +The reader shall not be troubled with those frightful quarrels in +which each of the family was pitted against the others. Sarah Jane +declared to her father, in terms which no child should have used to +her parent, that he must be an idiot and doting if he allowed his +youngest daughter and her lover to oust him from his house and from +all share in the management of the business. Brown then appealed +piteously to Maryanne, and begged that he might be allowed to occupy +a small closet as his bed-room. But Maryanne was inexorable. He had +undertaken to go, and unless he did go she would never omit to din +into his ears this breach of his direct promise to her. Maryanne +became almost great in her anger, as with voice raised so as to drown +her sister's weaker tones, she poured forth her own story of her own +wrongs. + +"It has been so from the beginning," she said. "When I first knew +Brisket, it was not for any love I had for the man, but because +mother took him up. Mother promised him money; and then I said +I'd marry him,--not because I cared for him, but because he was +respectable and all right. And then mother hadn't the money when the +pinch came, and, of course, Brisket wasn't going to be put upon;--why +should he? So I took up with Robinson, and you knew it, father." + +"I did, Maryanne; I did." + +"Of course you did. I wasn't going to make a fool of myself for no +man. I have got myself to look to; and if I don't do it myself, they +who is about me won't do it for me." + +"Your old father would do anything for you." + +"Father, I hate words! What I want is deeds. Well, then;--Robinson +came here and was your partner, and meanwhile I thought it was all +right. And who was it interfered? Why, you did. When Brisket went to +you, you promised him the money: and then he went and upset Robinson. +And we had that supper in Smithfield, and Robinson was off, and I was +to be Mrs. Brisket out of hand. But then, again, the money wasn't +there." + +"I couldn't make the money, Maryanne." + +"Father, it's a shame for you to tell such falsehoods before your own +daughters." + +"Oh, Maryanne! you wicked girl!" said Sarah Jane. + +"If I'm wicked, there's two of us so, Sarah Jane! You had the money, +and you gave it to Robinson for them notices of his. I know all about +it now! And then what could you expect of Brisket? Of course he was +off. There was no fal-lal about love, and all that, with him. He +wanted a woman to look after his house; but he wanted something with +her. And I wanted a roof over my head;--which I'm not likely to have, +the way you're going on." + +"While I have a morsel, you shall have half." + +"And when you haven't a morsel, how will it be then? Of course when +I saw all this, I felt myself put upon. There was Jones getting his +money out of the shop!" + +"Well, miss," said Sarah Jane; "and isn't he a partner?" + +"You ain't a partner, and I don't know what business you have there. +But every one was helping themselves except me. I was going to the +wall. I have always been going to the wall. Well; when Brisket was +off, I took up with Robinson again. I always liked him the best, only +I never thought of my own likings. I wasn't that selfish. I took up +with Robinson again; but I wasn't going to be any man's wife, if he +couldn't put a roof over my head. Well, father, you know what was +said then, and now you're going back from it." + +"I suppose you'd better have Mr. Brisket," said the old man, after a +pause. + +"Will you give Brisket those five hundred pounds?" And then those +embassies to Aldersgate Street were made by Mrs. Poppins and by Mr. +Jones. During this time Maryanne, having spoken her mind freely, +remained silent and sullen. That her father would not go out on the +appointed day, she knew. That she would not marry Robinson unless he +did, she knew also. She did not like Brisket; but, as she had said, +she was not so selfish as to let that stand in the way. If it was to +be Brisket, let it be Brisket. Only let something be done. + +Only let something be done. It certainly was not a matter of surprise +that she should demand so much. It must be acknowledged that all +connected with the firm and family began to feel that the house of +Brown, Jones, and Robinson, had not succeeded in establishing itself +on a sound basis. Mr. Brown was despondent, and often unwell. The +Jones's were actuated by no ambition to raise themselves to the +position of British merchants, but by a greedy desire to get what +little might be gotten in the scramble. Robinson still kept his +shoulder to the collar, but he did so with but little hope. He had +made a fatal mistake in leaguing himself with uncongenial partners, +and began to feel that this mistake must be expiated by the ruin of +his present venture. Under such circumstances Maryanne Brown was not +unreasonable in desiring that something should be done. She had now +given a tacit consent to that plan for bringing back Brisket, and +consequently her brother-in-law went at once to work. + +It must be acknowledged that the time was short. When Brisket, with +such easy indifference, postponed his visit to Bishopsgate Street +till the Saturday, giving to Gogham Market and the slaughtering of +his beasts a preference to the renewal of his love, he regarded the +task before him as a light one. But it must be supposed that it was +no light task to Miss Brown. On the Tuesday following that Saturday, +she would, if she were true to her word, join herself in wedlock to +George Robinson. She now purposed to be untrue to her word; but it +must be presumed that she had some misgivings at the heart when she +thought of the task before her. + +On the Thursday and the Friday she managed to avoid Robinson. On the +Saturday morning they met in her father's room for a minute, and when +he attempted to exercise a privilege to which his near approaching +nuptials certainly entitled him, she repulsed him sullenly: "Oh, +come; none of that." "I shall require the more on Tuesday," he +replied, with his ordinary good-humour. She spoke nothing further to +him then, but left the room and went away to her friend Mrs. Poppins. + +Robinson belonged to a political debating club, which met on every +Saturday evening at the "Goose and Gridiron" in one of the lanes +behind the church in Fleet Street. It was, therefore, considered that +the new compact might be made in Bishopsgate Street on that evening +without any danger of interruption from him. But at the hour of +dinner on that day, a word was whispered into his ear by Poppins. "I +don't suppose you care about it," said he, "but there's going to be +some sort of doing at the old man's this evening." + +"What doing?" + +"It's all right, I suppose; but Brisket is going to be there. It's +just a farewell call, I suppose." + +"Brisket with my love!" said Robinson. "Then will I be there also." + +"Don't forget that you've got to chaw up old Crowdy on the paper +question. What will the Geese do if you're not there?" The club in +question was ordinarily called the Goose Club, and the members were +in common parlance called "The Geese." + +"I will be there also," said Robinson. "But if I should be late, you +will tell the Geese why it is so." + +"They all know you are going to be married," said Poppins. And then +they parted. + +The hour at which the parliament of the Geese assembled was, as a +rule, a quarter before eight in the evening, so that the debate might +absolutely begin at eight. Seven was the hour for tea in Bishopsgate +Street, but on the present occasion Brisket was asked for half-past +seven, so that Robinson's absence might be counted on as a certainty. +At half-past seven to the moment Brisket was there, and the greeting +between him and Maryanne was not of a passionate nature. + +"Well, old girl, here I am again," he said, as he swung his burly +body into the room. + +"I see you," she said, as she half reluctantly gave him her hand. +"But remember, it wasn't me who sent for you. I'd just as lief you +stayed away." And then they went to business. + +Both Jones and his wife were there; and it may perhaps be said, that +if Maryanne Brown had any sincerity of feeling at her heart, it was +one of hatred for her brother-in-law. But now, this new change in her +fortunes was being brought about by his interference, and he was, as +it were, acting as her guardian. This was very bitter to her, and she +sat on one side in sullen silence, and to all appearance paid no heed +to what was being said. + +The minds of them all were so intent on the business part of the +transaction that the banquet was allowed to remain untouched till all +the preliminaries were settled. There was the tea left to draw till +it should be as bitter as Maryanne's temper, and the sally luns +were becoming as cold as Sarah Jane's heart. Mr. Brown did, in some +half-bashful manner, make an attempt at performing the duties of a +host. "My dears, won't Mr. Brisket have his dish of tea now it's +here?" But "my dears" were deaf to the hint. Maryanne still sat +sullen in the corner, and Sarah Jane stood bolt upright, with ears +erect, ready to listen, ready to speak, ready to interfere with +violence should the moment come when anything was to be gained on her +side by doing so. + +They went to the work in hand, with very little of the preamble of +courtesy. Yes; Brisket would marry her on the terms proposed by +Jones. He could see his way if he had a hundred pounds down, and the +bill of the Firm at three months for the remaining sum. + +"Not three months, Brisket; six months," suggested Brown. But in this +matter Brisket was quite firm, and Mr. Brown gave way. + +But, as all of them knew, the heat of the battle would concern the +names which were to be written on the bill. Brisket demanded that +the bill should be from the firm. Jones held that as a majority of +the firm were willing that this should be so, Mr. Brown was legally +entitled to make the bill payable at the bank out of the funds of the +house. In this absurd opinion he was supported violently by his wife. +Brisket, of course, gave no opinion on the subject. It was not for +him to interfere among the partners. All he said was, that the bill +of the firm had been promised to him, and that he shouldn't see his +way with anything else. Mr. Brown hesitated,--pondering painfully +over the deed he was called upon to do. He knew that he was being +asked to rob the man he loved;--but he knew also, that if he did not +do so, he must go forth from his home. And then, when he might be in +want of comfort, the child for whose sake he should do so would turn +from him without love or pity. + +"Jones and me would do it together," said Mr. Brown. + +"Jones won't do nothing of the kind," said Jones's careful wife. + +"It would be no good if he did," said Brisket. "And, I'll tell you +what it is, I'm not going to be made a fool of; I must know how it's +to be at once, or I'm off." And he put out his hand as though to take +up his hat. + +"What fools you are!" said Maryanne, speaking from her chair in the +corner. "There's not one of you knows George Robinson. Ask him to +give his name to the bill, and he'll do it instantly." + +"Who is it wants the name of George Robinson?" said the voice of that +injured man, as at the moment he entered the room. "George Robinson +is here." And then he looked round upon the assembled councillors, +and his eyes rested at last with mingled scorn and sorrow upon the +face of Maryanne Brown;--with mingled scorn and sorrow, but not with +anger. "George Robinson is here; who wants his name?--and why?" + +"Will you take a cup of tea, George?" said Mr. Brown, as soon as he +was able to overcome his first dismay. + +"Maryanne," said Robinson, "why is that man here?" and he pointed to +Brisket. + +"Ask them," said Maryanne, and she turned her face away from him, in +towards the wall. + +"Mr. Brown, why is he here? Why is your daughter's former lover here +on the eve of her marriage with me?" + +"I will answer that question, if you please," said Jones, stepping +up. + +"You!" And Robinson, looking at him from head to foot, silenced him +with his look. "You answer me! From you I will take no answer in this +matter. With you I will hold no parley on this subject. I have spoken +to two whom I loved, and they have given me no reply. There is one +here whom I do not love and he shall answer me. Mr. Brisket, though I +have not loved you, I have believed you to be an honest man. Why are +you here?" + +"To see if we can agree about my marrying that young woman," said +Brisket, nodding at her with his head, while he still kept his hands +in his trousers' pockets. + +"Ah! Is it so? There she is, Mr. Brisket; and now, for the third +time, I shall go out from your presence, renouncing her charms in +your favour. When first I did so at the dancing-room, I was afraid of +your brute strength, because the crowd was looking on and I knew you +could carry out your unmanly threat. And when I wrote that paper the +second time, you had again threatened me, and I was again afraid. My +heart was high on other matters, and why should I have sacrificed +myself? Now I renounce her again; but I am not afraid,--for my heart +is high on nothing." + +"George, George!" said Maryanne, jumping from her seat. "Leave him, +leave him, and I'll promise--" And then she seized hold of his arm. +For the moment some touch of a woman's feeling had reached her heart. +At that instant she perhaps recognized,--if only for the instant, +that true love is worth more than comfort, worth more than well +assured rations of bread and meat, and a secure roof. For that once +she felt rather than understood that an honest heart is better than a +strong arm. But it was too late. + + +[Illustration: Robinson defies his rival.] + + +"No," said he, "I'll have no promise from you;--your words are false. +I've humbled myself as the dust beneath your feet, because I loved +you,--and, therefore, you have treated me as the dust. The man who +will crawl to a woman will ever be so treated." + +"You are about right there, old fellow," said Brisket. + +"Leave me, I say." For still she held his arm. She still held his +arm, for she saw by his eye what he intended, though no one else had +seen. + +"You have twitted me with my cowardice," he said; "but you shall +see that I am no coward. He is the coward!" and he pointed with his +finger to Brisket. "He is the coward, for he will undergo no risk." +And then, without further notice, George Robinson flew at the +butcher's throat. + +It was very clear that Brisket himself had suspected no such attack, +for till the moment at which he felt Robinson's fingers about his +cravat, he had still stood with his hands in the pockets of his +trousers. He was very strong, and when his thoughts were well made up +to the idea of a fight, could in his own way be quick enough with his +fists; but otherwise he was slow in action, nor was he in any way +passionate. + +"Halloo," he said, striving to extricate himself, and hardly able +to articulate, as the handkerchief tightened itself about his neck. +"Ugh-h-h." And getting his arm round Robinson's ribs he tried to +squeeze his assailant till he should drop his hold. + +"I will have his tongue from his mouth," shouted Robinson, and as he +spoke, he gave another twist to the handkerchief. + +"Oh, laws," said Mrs. Jones. "The poor man will be choked," and she +laid hold of the tail of Robinson's coat, pulling at it with all her +strength. + +"Don't, don't," said Mr. Brown. "George, George, you shall have her; +indeed you shall,--only leave him." + +Maryanne the while looked on, as ladies of yore did look on when +knights slaughtered each other for their smiles. And perhaps of yore +the hearts of those who did look on were as cold and callous as was +hers. For one moment of enthusiasm she had thought she loved, but now +again she was indifferent. It might be settled as well this way as +any other. + +At length Brisket succeeded in actually forcing his weak assailant +from him, Mrs. Jones the while lending him considerable assistance; +and then he raised his heavy fist. Robinson was there opposite to +him, helpless and exhausted, just within his reach; and he raised his +heavy fist to strike him down. + +He raised his fist, and then he let it fall. "No," said he; "I'm +blowed if I'll hit you. You're better stuff than I thought you was. +And now look here, young man; there she is. If she'll say that she'll +have you, I'll walk out, and I won't come across you or she any +more." + +Maryanne, when she heard this, raised her face and looked steadily at +Robinson. If, however, she had any hope, that hope was fruitless. + +"I have renounced her twice," said he, "and now I renounce her +again. It is not now from fear. Mr. Brown, you have my authority for +accepting that bill in the name of the Firm." Then he left the room +and went forth into the street. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +AN EVENING AT THE "GOOSE AND GRIDIRON." + + +Those political debaters who met together weekly at the "Goose and +Gridiron" were certainly open to the insinuation that they copied +the practices of another debating society, which held its sittings +farther west. In some respects they did so, and were perhaps even +servile in their imitation. They divided themselves into parties, of +which each had an ostensible leader. But then there was always some +ambitious but hardly trustworthy member who endeavoured to gather +round him a third party which might become dominant by trimming +between the other two; and he again would find the ground cut from +beneath his feet by new aspirants. The members never called each +other by their own names, but addressed each always as "The worthy +Goose," speaking at such moments with the utmost courtesy. This +would still be done, though the speaker were using all his energy +to show that that other Goose was in every sense unworthy. They had +a perpetual chairman, for whom they affected the most unbounded +respect. He was generally called "The Grand," his full title being +"The Most Worthy Grand Goose;" and members on their legs, when they +wished to address the meeting with special eloquence, and were +about to speak words which they thought peculiarly fit for public +attention, would generally begin by thus invoking him. "Most Worthy +Grand," they would say. But this when done by others than well +accustomed speakers, was considered as a work either of arrogance +or of ignorance. This great officer was much loved among them, and +familiarly he was called "My Grand." Though there was an immensity of +talk at these meetings, men speaking sometimes by the half hour whose +silence the club would have been willing to purchase almost at any +price, there were not above four established orators. There were +four orators, of each of whom it was said that he copied the manner +and tone of some great speaker in that other society. There was our +friend Robinson, who in the elegance of his words, and the brilliancy +of his ideas, far surpassed any other Goose. His words were +irresistible, and his power in that assembly unequalled. But yet, as +many said, it was power working only for evil. The liberal party to +which he had joined himself did not dare to stand without him; but +yet, if the whispers that got abroad were true, they would only too +gladly have dispensed with him. He was terrible as a friend; but then +he could be more terrible as a foe. + +Then there was Crowdy,--Crowdy, whose high-flown ideas hardly tallied +with the stern realities of his life. Crowdy was the leader of those +who had once held firmly by Protection. Crowdy had been staunchly +true to his party since he had a party, though it had been said of +him that the adventures of Crowdy in search of a party had been very +long and very various. There had been no Goose with a bitterer tongue +than Crowdy; but now in these days a spirit of quiescence had fallen +on him; and though he spoke as often as ever, he did not wield so +deadly a tomahawk. + +Then there was the burly Buggins, than whom no Goose had a more +fluent use of his vernacular. He was not polished as Robinson, nor +had he ever possessed the exquisite keenness of Crowdy. But in +speaking he always hit the nail on the head, and carried his hearers +with him by the energy and perspicuity of his argument. But by +degrees the world of the Goose and Gridiron had learned that Buggins +talked of things which he did not understand, and which he had not +studied. His facts would not bear the light. Words fell from his +mouth sweeter than honey; but sweet as they were they were of no +avail. It was pleasant to hear Buggins talk, but men knew that it was +useless. + +But perhaps the most remarkable Goose in that assembly, as decidedly +he was the most popular, was old Pan. He traced his birth to the +mighty blood of the great Pancabinets, whose noble name he still +proudly bore. Every one liked old Pancabinet, and though he did not +now possess, and never had possessed, those grand oratorical powers +which distinguished so highly the worthy Geese above mentioned, no +Goose ever rose upon his legs more sure of respectful attention. The +sway which he bore in that assembly was very wonderful, for he was an +old man, and there were there divers Geese of unruly spirit. Lately +he had associated himself much with our friend Robinson, for which +many blamed him. But old Pancabinet generally knew what he was about, +and having recognized the tremendous power of the young merchant from +Bishopsgate Street, was full sure that he could get on better with +him than he could against him. + +It was pleasant to see "My Grand" as he sat in his big arm-chair, +with his beer before him, and his long pipe in his mouth. A benign +smile was ever on his face, and yet he showed himself plainly +conscious that authority lived in his slightest word, and that he had +but to nod to be obeyed. That pipe was constant in his hand, and was +the weapon with which he signified his approbation of the speakers. +When any great orator would arise and address him as Most Worthy +Grand, he would lay his pipe for an instant on the table, and, +crossing his hands on his ample waistcoat, would bow serenely to the +Goose on his legs. Then, not allowing the spark to be extinguished +on his tobacco, he would resume the clay, and spread out over his +head and shoulders a long soft cloud of odorous smoke. But when any +upstart so addressed him,--any Goose not entitled by character to +use the sonorous phrase,--he would still retain his pipe, and simply +wink his eye. It was said that this distinction quite equalled the +difference between big type and little. Perhaps the qualification +which was most valued among The Geese, and most specially valued by +The Worthy Grand, was a knowledge of the Forms of the Room, as it was +called. These rules or formulas, which had probably been gradually +invented for the complication of things which had once been too +simple, were so numerous that no Goose could remember them all who +was not very constant in his attention, and endowed with an accurate +memory. And in this respect they were no doubt useful;--that when +young and unskilled Geese tried to monopolize the attention of the +Room, they would be constantly checked and snubbed, and at last +subdued and silenced, by some reference to a forgotten form. No Goose +could hope to get through a lengthy speech without such interruption +till he had made the Forms of the Room a long and painful study. + +On the evening in question,--that same evening on which Robinson +had endeavoured to tear out the tongue of Brisket,--the Geese were +assembled before eight o'clock. A motion that had been made elsewhere +for the repeal of the paper duties was to be discussed. It was known +that the minds of many Geese were violently set against a measure +which they presumed to be most deleterious to the country; but old +Pan, under the rigorous instigation of Robinson, had given in his +adhesion, and was prepared to vote for the measure,--and to talk for +it also, should there be absolute necessity. Buggins also was on the +same side,--for Buggins was by trade a radical. But it was felt by +all that the debate would be nothing unless Robinson should be there +to "chaw up" Crowdy, as had been intimated to our friend by that +worthy Goose the young Poppins. + +But at eight o'clock and at a quarter past eight Robinson was +not there. Crowdy, not wishing to lacerate his foe till that foe +should be there to feel the wounds, sat silent in his usual seat. +Pancabinet, who understood well the beauty of silence, would not +begin the fray. Buggins was ever ready to talk, but he was cunning +enough to know that a future opportunity might be more valuable than +the present one. Then up jumped Poppins. Now Poppins was no orator, +but he felt that as the friend of Robinson, he was bound to address +the meeting on the present occasion. There were circumstances which +should be explained. "Most worthy Grand,--" he began, starting +suddenly to his legs; whereupon the worthy Grand slightly drew back +his head, still holding his pipe between his lips, and winked at the +unhappy Poppins. "As the friend of the absent Robinson--" he went on; +but he was at once interrupted by loud cries of "order" from every +side of the Room. And, worse than that, the Grand frowned at him. +There was no rule more established than that which forbade the name +of any Goose to be mentioned. "I beg the Grand's pardon," continued +Poppins; "I mean the absent worthy Goose. As his friend I rise to +say a few words. I know he feels the greatest interest about this +measure, which has been brought forward in the House of C--" But +again he was interrupted. "Order, order, order," was shouted at him +by vociferous Geese on every side, and the Grand frowned at him +twice. When the Grand had frowned at a member three times, that +member was silenced for the night. In this matter the assembly at the +"Goose and Gridiron" had not copied their rule from any other Body. +But it is worthy of consideration whether some other Body might not +do well to copy theirs. "I beg the Grand's pardon again," said the +unhappy Poppins; "but I meant in another place." Hereupon a worthy +Goose got up and suggested that their numbers should be counted. Now +there was a rule that no debate could be continued unless a dozen +Geese were present; and a debate once closed, was closed for that +night. When such a hint was given to the Grand, it became the Grand's +duty to count his Geese, and in order to effect this in accordance +with the constitution of the assembly, it was necessary that the +servants should withdraw. Strangers also were sometimes present, +and at such moments they were politely asked to retire. When the +suggestion was made, the suggestor no doubt knew that the requisite +number was not there, but it usually happened on such occasions that +some hangers-on were at hand to replenish the room. A Goose or two +might be eating bread and cheese in the little parlour,--for food +could not be introduced into the debating-room; and a few of the +younger Geese might often be found amusing themselves with the +young lady at the bar. Word would be passed to them that the Grand +was about to count, and indeed they would hear the tap of his +tobacco-stopper on the table. Then there would be a rush among these +hungry and amorous Geese, and so the number would be made up. That +they called making a flock. + +When the suggestion was given on the present occasion the Grand put +down his tankard from his hand and proceeded to the performance of +his duty. Turning the mouthpiece of his long pipe-clay out from him, +he pointed it slowly to one after another, counting them as he so +pointed. First he counted up old Pancabinet, and a slight twinkle +might be seen in the eyes of the two old men as he did so. Then, +turning his pipe round the room, he pointed at them all, and it was +found that there were fifteen present. "There is a flock, and the +discreet and worthy Goose is in possession of the room," he said, +bowing to Poppins. And Poppins again began his speech. + +It was but a blundering affair, as was too often the case with the +speeches made there; and then when Poppins sat down, the great Crowdy +rose slowly to his legs. We will not attempt to give the speech of +this eloquent Goose at length, for the great Crowdy often made long +speeches. It may suffice to say that having a good cause he made +the best of it, and that he pitched into our poor Robinson most +unmercifully, always declaring as he did so that as his friend +the enterprising and worthy Goose was absent, his own mouth was +effectually closed. It may be noted here that whenever a Goose was +in commerce the epithet "enterprising" was always used when he was +mentioned; and if he held or ever had held a service of trust, as +Poppins did, he was called the "discreet" Goose. And then, just as +Crowdy finished his speech, the swinging door of the room was opened, +and Robinson himself started up to his accustomed place. + +It was easy to see that both the inner man had been disturbed and +the outer. His hair and clothes had been ruffled in the embrace +with Brisket, and his heart had been ruffled in its encounter with +Maryanne. He had come straight from Bishopsgate Street to the "Goose +and Gridiron;" and now when he walked up to his seat, all the Geese +remained silent waiting for him to declare himself. + +"Most worthy Grand," he began; and immediately the long pipe was +laid upon the table and the hands of the Grand were crossed upon his +bosom. "A circumstance has occurred to-night, which unfits me for +these debates." "No, no, no," was shouted on one side; and "hear, +hear, hear," on the other; during which the Grand again bowed and +then resumed his pipe. + +"If the chamber will allow me to wander away from paper for a moment, +and to open the sores of a bleeding heart--" + +"Question, question," was then called by a jealous voice. + +"The enterprising and worthy Goose is perfectly in order," said the +burly Buggins. "Many a good heart will bleed before long if this +debate is to be choked and smothered by the cackle of the incapable." + +"I submit that the question before the chamber is the repeal of the +paper duties," said the jealous voice, "and not the bleeding heart of +the enterprising and worthy Goose." + +"The question before the cabinet is," said My Grand, "that the +chamber considers that two millions a-year will be lost for ever by +the repeal of the paper duties; but if the enterprising and worthy +Goose have any personal remarks to make bearing on that subject, he +will be in order." + +"It is a matter of privilege," suggested Poppins. + +"A personal explanation is always allowed," said Robinson, +indignantly; "nor did I think that any member of this chamber would +have had the baseness to stop my voice when--" + +"Order--order--order!" + +"I may have been wrong to say baseness in this chamber, however base +the worthy Goose may be; and, therefore, with permission of our +worthy Grand, I will substitute 'hardihood.'" Whereupon the worthy +Grand again bowed. But still there were cries of question from the +side of the room opposite to that on which Robinson sat. + +Then old Pancabinet rose from his seat, and all voices were hushed. + +"If I may be allowed to make a suggestion," said he, "I would say +that the enterprising and worthy Goose should be heard on a matter +personal to himself. It may very probably be that the privileges of +this chamber are concerned; and I think I may say that any worthy +Goose speaking on matters affecting privilege in this chamber is +always heard with that attention which the interest of the subject +demands." After that there was no further interruption, and Robinson +was allowed to open his bleeding heart. + +"Most worthy Grand," he again began, and again the pipe was laid +down, for Robinson was much honoured. "I come here hot from a scene +of domestic woe, which has robbed me of all political discretion, +and made the paper duty to me an inscrutable mystery. The worthy +Geese here assembled see before them a man who has been terribly +injured; one in whose mangled breast Fate has fixed her sharpest +dagger, and poisoned the blade before she fixed it." "No--no--no." +"Hear--hear--hear." "Yes, my Grand; she poisoned the blade before she +fixed it. On Tuesday next I had hoped--" and here his voice became +inexpressibly soft and tender, "on Tuesday next I had hoped to +become one bone and one flesh with a fair girl whom I have loved for +months;--fair indeed to the outer eye, as flesh and form can make +her; but ah! how hideously foul within. And I had hoped on this day +se'nnight to have received the congratulations of this chamber. I +need not say that it would have been the proudest moment of my life. +But, my Grand, that has all passed away. Her conduct has been the +conduct of a Harpy. She is a Regan. She is false, heartless, and +cruel; and this night I have renounced her." + +Hereupon a small Goose, very venomous, but vehemently attached to the +privileges of his chamber, gave notice of a motion that that false +woman should be brought before the Most Worthy Grand, and heard +at the bar of the "Goose and Gridiron." But another worthy Goose +showed that the enterprising and worthy Goose had by his own showing +renounced the lady himself, and that, therefore, there could have +been no breach of the privilege of the chamber. The notice of motion +was then withdrawn. + +"O woman!" continued Robinson, "how terrible is thy witchcraft, +and how powerful are thy charms! Thou spakest, and Adam fell. Thou +sangest, and Samson's strength was gone. The head of the last of the +prophets was the reward of thy meretricious feet. 'Twas thy damnable +eloquence that murdered the noble Duncan. 'Twas thy lascivious beauty +that urged the slaughter of the noble Dane. As were Adam and Samson, +so am I. As were Macbeth and the foul king in the play, so is my +rival Brisket. Most worthy Grand, this chamber must hold me excused +if I decline to-night to enter upon the subject of the paper duties." +Then Robinson left the chamber, and the discussion was immediately +adjourned to that day se'nnight. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +GEORGE ROBINSON'S MARRIAGE. + + +Thus ended George Robinson's dream of love. Never again will he +attempt that phase of life. Beauty to him in future shall be a +thing on which the eye may rest with satisfaction, as it may on the +sculptor's chiselled marble, or on the varied landscape. It shall be +a thing to look at,--possibly to possess. But for the future George +Robinson's heart shall be his own. George Robinson is now wedded, and +he will admit of no second wife. On that same Tuesday which was to +have seen him made the legal master of Maryanne's charms, he vowed +to himself that Commerce should be his bride; and, as in the dead +of night he stood on the top of the hill of Ludgate, he himself, as +high-priest, performed the ceremony. "Yes," said he on that occasion, +"O goddess, here I devote myself to thy embraces, to thine and thine +only. To live for thee shall satisfy both my heart and my ambition. +If thou wilt be kind, no softer loveliness shall be desired by me. +George Robinson has never been untrue to his vows, nor shalt thou, +O my chosen one, find him so now. For thee will I labour, straining +every nerve to satisfy thy wishes. Woman shall henceforward be to me +a doll for the adornment of whose back it will be my business to sell +costly ornaments. In no other light will I regard the loveliness of +her form. O sweet Commerce, teach me thy lessons! Let me ever buy in +the cheapest market and sell in the dearest. Let me know thy hidden +ways, and if it be that I am destined for future greatness, and may +choose the path by which it shall be reached, it is not great wealth +at which I chiefly aim. Let it rather be said of me that I taught the +modern world of trade the science of advertisement." + +Thus did he address his new celestial bride, and as he spoke a +passing cloud rolled itself away from before the moon's face, and +the great luminary of the night shone down upon his upturned face. +"I accept the omen," said Robinson, with lightened heart; and from +that moment his great hopes never again altogether failed him, +though he was doomed to pass through scorching fires of commercial +disappointment. + +But it must not be supposed that he was able to throw off his passion +for Maryanne Brown without a great inward struggle. Up to that +moment, in which he found Brisket in Mr. Brown's room, and, as he +stood for a moment on the landing-place, heard that inquiry made as +to the use of his name, he had believed that Maryanne would at last +be true to him. Poppins, indeed, had hinted his suspicions, but in +the way of prophecy Poppins was a Cassandra. Poppins saw a good deal +with those twinkling eyes of his, but Robinson did not trust to the +wisdom of Poppins. Up to that hour he had believed in Maryanne, and +then in the short flash of an instant the truth had come upon him. +She had again promised herself to Brisket, if Brisket would only +take her. Let Brisket have her if he would. A minute's thought was +sufficient to bring him to this resolve. But hours of scorching +torment must be endured ere he could again enjoy the calm working of +a sound mind in a sound body. + +It has been told how in the ecstasy of his misery he poured out the +sorrows of his bleeding heart before his brethren at the debating +club. They, with that ready sympathy which they always evince for +the success or failure of any celebrated brother, at once adjourned +themselves; and Robinson walked out, followed at a distance by the +faithful Poppins. + +"George, old fellow!" said the latter, touching his friend on the +shoulder, at the corner of Bridge Street. + +"Leave me!" exclaimed Robinson. "Do not pry into sorrows which you +cannot understand. I would be alone with myself this night." + +"You'd be better if you'd come to the 'Mitre,' and smoke a pipe," +said Poppins. + +"Pipe me no pipes," said Robinson. + +"Oh, come. You'd better quit that, and take it easy. After all, isn't +it better so, than you should find her out when it was too late? +There's many would be glad to have your chance." + +"Man!" shouted Robinson, and as he did so he turned round upon his +friend and seized him by the collar of his coat. "I loved that woman. +Forty thousand Poppinses could not, with all their quantity of love, +make up my sum." + +"Very likely not," said Poppins. + +"Would'st thou drink up Esil? Would'st thou eat a crocodile?" + +"Heaven forbid," said Poppins. + +"I'll do it. And if thou prate of mountains--" + +"But I didn't." + +"No, Poppins, no. That's true. Though I should be Hamlet, yet art not +thou Laertes. But Poppins, thou art Horatio." + +"I'm Thomas Poppins, old fellow; and I mean to stick to you till I +see you safe in bed." + +"Thou art Horatio, for I've found thee honest. There are more things +in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamed of in our philosophy." + +"Come, old fellow." + +"Poppins, give me that man that is not passion's slave, and I will +wear him in my heart's core; ay, in my heart of hearts;--as I do +thee." And then, falling on Poppins' neck, George Robinson embraced +him. + +"You'll be better after that," said Poppins. "Come, let's have a +little chat over a drop of something hot, and then we'll go to bed. +I'll stand Sammy." + +"Something hot!" said Robinson. "I tell you, Poppins, that everything +is hot to me. Here, here I'm hot." And then he struck his breast. +"And yet I'm very cold. 'Tis cold to be alone; cold to have lost +one's all. Poppins, I've loved a harpy." + +"I believe you're about right there," said Poppins. + +"A harpy! Her nails will grow to talons, and on her feet are hoofs. +Within she is horn all over. There's not a drop of blood about her +heart. Oh, Poppins!" + +"You're very well out of it, George. But yet I'm sorry for you. I am, +indeed." + +"And now, good-night. This way is mine; yours there." + +"What! to the bridge? No; I'm blessed if you do; at any rate not +alone." + +"Poppins, tell me this; was Hamlet mad, or did he feign so?" + +"Faith, very likely the latter. Many do that now. There are better +rations in Bedlam, than in any of the gaols;--let alone the +workhouses." + +"Ay; go mad for rations! There's no feigning there, Poppins. The +world is doing that. But, Poppins, Hamlet feigned; and so do I. Let +the wind blow as it may, I know a hawk from a handsaw. Therefore you +need not fear me." + +"I don't; but I won't let you go on to that bridge alone. You'll be +singing that song of a suicide, till you're as low as low. Come and +drink a drop of something, and wish Brisket joy with his wife." + +"I will," said Robinson. And so the two went to the "Mitre;" and +there, comforted by the truth and honesty of his friend, Robinson +resolved that he would be weak no longer, but, returning at once +to his work, would still struggle on to rescue the house of Brown, +Jones, and Robinson from that bourne of bankruptcy to which it was +being hurried by the incompetency of his partners. + +The following day was Sunday, and he rose at twelve with a racking +headache. He had promised to take a chop with his friend at two, and +at that hour he presented himself, with difficulty, at Mrs. Poppins's +room. She was busy laying the cloth as he entered, but his friend +was seated, half-dressed, unshorn, pale, and drooping, in an old +arm-chair near the window. + +"It's a shame for you, George Robinson," said the lady, as he +entered, "so it is. Look at that, for a father of a family,--coming +home at three o'clock in the morning, and not able to make his way +upstairs till I went down and fetched him!" + +"I told her that we were obliged to sit out the debate," said +Poppins, winking eagerly at his friend. + +"Debate, indeed! A parcel of geese as you call yourself! Only geese +go to bed betimes, and never get beastly drunk as you was, Poppins." + +"I took a bit of stewed cheese, which always disagrees with me." + +"Stewed cheese never disagrees with you when I'm with you. I'll tell +you what it is, Poppins; if you ain't at home and in bed by eleven +o'clock next Saturday, I'll go down to the 'Goose and Gridiron,' and +I'll have that old Grandy out of his chair. That's what I will. I +suppose you're so bad you can't eat a bit of nothing?" In answer to +which, Robinson said that he did not feel himself to be very hungry. + +"It's a blessing to Maryanne to have lost you; that's what it is." + +"Stop, woman," said Robinson. + +"Don't you woman me any womans. I know what stuff you're made off. +It's a blessing for her not to have to do with a man who comes home +roaring drunk, like a dead log, at three o'clock in the morning." + +"Now, Polly,--" began poor Poppins. + +"Oh, ah, Polly! Yes. Polly's very well. But it was a bad day for +Polly when she first sat eyes on you. There was Sergeant MacNash +never took a drop too much in his life. And you're worse than +Robinson ten times. He's got no children at home, and no wife. If he +kills hisself with tobacco and gin, nobody will be much the worse. +I know one who's got well out of it, anyway. And now, if either of +you are able to eat, you can come." Robinson did not much enjoy his +afternoon, but the scenes, as they passed, served to reconcile him +to that lonely life which must, henceforward, be his fate. What was +there to enjoy in the fate of Poppins, and what in the proposed +happiness of Brisket? Could not a man be sufficient for himself +alone? Was there aught of pleasantness in that grinding tongue of +his friend's wife? Should not one's own flesh,--the bone of one's +bone,--bind up one's bruises, pouring in balm with a gentle hand? +Poppins was wounded sorely about the head and stomach, and of what +nature was the balm which his wife administered? He, Robinson, had +longed for married bliss, but now he longed no longer. + +On the following Monday and Tuesday he went silently about his work, +speaking hardly a word to anybody. Mr. Brown greeted him with an +apologetic sigh, and Jones with a triumphant sneer; but he responded +to neither of them. He once met Maryanne in the passage, and bowed to +her with a low salute, but he did not speak to her. He did not speak +to her, but he saw the colour in her cheek, and watched her downcast +eye. He was still weak as water, and had she clung to him even then, +he would even then have forgiven her! But she passed on, and, as she +left the house, she slammed the door behind her. + +A little incident happened on that day, which is mentioned to show +that, even in his present frame of mind, Robinson was able to take +advantage of the smallest incident on behalf of his firm. A slight +crowd had been collected round the door in the afternoon, for there +had been a quarrel between Mr. Jones and one of the young men, in +which loud words had reached the street, and a baby, which a woman +held in her arms, had been somewhat pressed and hurt. As soon as the +tidings reached Robinson's ears he was instantly at his desk, and +before the trifling accident was two hours passed, the following bill +was in the printer's hands;-- + + + CAUTION TO MOTHERS!--MOTHERS, BEWARE! + + Three suckling infants were yesterday pressed to death in + their mothers' arms by the crowd which had congregated + before the house of Brown, Jones, and Robinson, at Nine + times Nine, Bishopsgate Street, in their attempts to be + among the first purchasers of that wonderful lot of cheap + but yet excellent flannels, which B., J., and R. have just + imported. Such flannels, at such a price, were never before + offered to the British public. The sale, at the figures + quoted below, will continue for three days more. + + _Magenta House._ + + +And then followed the list. + +It had chanced that Mr. Brown had picked up a lot of remnants +from a wholesale house in Houndsditch, and the genius of Robinson +immediately combined that fact with the little accident above +mentioned. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +SHOWING HOW MR. BRISKET DIDN'T SEE HIS WAY. + + +Then two months passed by, and the summer was over. Early in +September Mr. Brown had been taken ill, and he went to Margate for +a fortnight with his unmarried daughter. This had been the means of +keeping Brisket quiet for a while with reference to that sum of money +which he was to receive, and had given a reason why the marriage +with him should not be performed at once. On Mr. Brown's return, the +matter was discussed, and Brisket became impatient. But the middle +of October had come before any steps were taken to which it will be +necessary to allude in the annals of the firm. + +At that time Brisket, on two successive days, was closeted with his +proposed father-in-law, and it was evident to Robinson that after +each of these interviews Mr. Brown was left in an unhappy frame +of mind. At this time the affairs of the shop were not absolutely +ruinous,--or would not have been so had there been a proper watch +kept on the cash taken over the counter. The heaviest amounts due +were to the stationer, printer, and advertising agents. This was +wrong, for such people of course press for their money; and whatever +hitch or stoppage there may be in trade, there should, at any rate, +be no hitch or stoppage in the capability for advertising. For the +goods disposed of by the house payments had been made, if not with +absolute punctuality on every side, at any rate so fairly that some +supply was always forthcoming. The account at the bank had always +been low; and, though a few small bills had been discounted, nothing +like a mercantile system of credit had been established. All this +was wrong, and had already betrayed the fact that Brown, Jones, and +Robinson were little people, trading in a little way. It is useless +to conceal the fact now, and these memoirs would fail to render to +commerce that service which is expected from them, were the truth on +this matter kept back from the public. Brown, Jones, and Robinson had +not soared upwards into the empyrean vault of commercial greatness +on eagle's wings. There are bodies so ponderous in their nature, +that for them no eagle's wings can be found. The firm had commenced +their pecuniary transactions on a footing altogether weak and +unsubstantial. They had shown their own timidity, and had confessed, +by the nature of their fiscal transactions, that they knew themselves +to be small. To their advertising agents they should never have been +behindhand in their payments for one day; but they should have been +bold in demanding credit from their bank, and should have given their +orders to the wholesale houses without any of that hesitation or +reserve which so clearly indicates feebleness of purpose. + +But in spite of this acknowledged weakness, a brisk trade over the +counter had been produced; and though the firm had never owned a +large stock, an unremitting sale was maintained of small goods, +such as ribbons, stockings, handkerchiefs, and cotton gloves. The +Katakarion shirts also had been successful, and now there was a hope +that, during the coming winter, something might be done in African +monkey muffs. At that time, therefore, the bill of the house at three +months, though not to be regarded as a bank-note, was not absolutely +waste paper. How far Brisket's eyes were open on this matter cannot +now be said; but he still expressed himself willing to take one +hundred pounds in cash, and the remainder of Maryanne's fortune in +the bill of the firm at three months. + +And then Mr. Brisket made a third visit to Bishopsgate Street. On all +these occasions he passed by the door of the little room in which +Robinson sat, and well did his late rival know his ponderous step. +His late rival;--for Brisket was now welcome to come and go. "Mr. +Brown!" said he, on one occasion, "I have come here to have a +settlement about this thing at once." + +"I've been ill, Brisket; very ill, you know," said Mr. Brown, +pleadingly, "and I'm not strong now." + +"But that can't make no difference about the money. Maryanne is +willing, and me also. When Christmas is coming on, it's a busy time +in our trade, and I can't be minding that sort of thing then. If +you've got the cash ready, and that bit of paper, we'll have it off +next week." + +"I've never spoken to him about the paper;" and Mr. Brown, as he +uttered these words, pointed down towards the room in which Robinson +was sitting. + +"Then you'd better," said Brisket. "For I shan't come here again +after to-day. I'll see it out now one way or the other, and so I've +told Maryanne." + +Mr. Brown's sigh, when he heard these words, was prolonged and deep. +"You heard what he said that night," continued Brisket. "You ask him. +He's game for anything of that sort." + +All these words Robinson had overheard, for the doors of the two +rooms were close together, and neither of them had been absolutely +closed. Now was the moment in which it behoved him to act. No false +delicacy as to the nature of the conversation between his partner and +that partner's proposed son-in-law withheld him; but rising from his +seat, he walked straight into the upper room. + +"Here he is, by jingo," said Brisket. "Talk of the--" + +"Speak of an angel and behold his wings," said Robinson, with a faint +smile. "I come on a visit which might befit an angel. Mr. Brown, I +consent that your daughter's dowry shall be paid from the funds of +the firm." + +But Mr. Brown, instead of expressing his thankful gratitude, as was +expected, winked at his partner. The dull Brisket did not perceive +it; but Robinson at once knew that this act of munificence on his +part was not at the moment pleasing to the lady's father. + +"You're a trump," said Brisket; "and when we're settled at home like, +Maryanne and I that is, I hope you'll let bygones be bygones, and +come and take pot luck with us sometimes. If there's a tender bit of +steak about the place it shall be sent to the kitchen fire when you +show your face." + +"Brisket," said Robinson, "there's my hand. I've loved her. I don't +deny it. But you're welcome to her. No woman shall ever sit at the +hearth of George Robinson;--but at her hearth George Robinson will +never sit." + +"You shall be as welcome as if you did," said Brisket; "and a man +can't say no fairer." + +But in the meantime Mr. Brown still continued to wink, and Robinson +understood that his consent to that bill transaction was not in +truth desired. "Perhaps, Mr. Brisket," said he, "as this is a matter +of business, I and my partner had better discuss it for a moment +together. We can go down into my room, Mr. Brown." + +"With all my heart," said Brisket. "But remember this, both of you: +if I don't see my way before I leave the house, I don't come here any +more. I know my way pretty well from Aldersgate Street, and I'm sick +of the road. I've been true to my word all along, and I'll be true +to the end. But if I don't see my way before I leave this house, +remember I'm off." + +"You shouldn't have said that," whispered Brown to his partner as +soon as the two were together. + +"Why not?" + +"The money won't be there at the end of three months, not if we pay +them other things. And where's the hundred pounds of ready to come +from?" + +"That's your look-out." + +"I haven't got it, George. Jones has it, I know; but I can't get it +out of him." + +"Jones got a hundred pounds! And where should Jones have gotten it?" + +"I know we have been wrong, George; I know we have. But you can't +wonder at me, George; can you? I did bring four thousand pounds into +it; didn't I?" + +"And now you haven't got a hundred pounds!" + +"If I have it's as much as I can say. But Jones has it, and ever so +much more. If Brisket will wait, we can frighten it out of Jones." + +"If I know anything of human nature," said Robinson, "Brisket will +not wait." + +"He would, if you hadn't spoke to him that way. He'd say he wouldn't, +and go away, and Maryanne would blow up; but I should have worked the +money out of Jones at last, and then Brisket would have waited." + +When Mr. Brown had made this disclosure, whispering all the time as +he leaned his head and shoulder on Robinson's upright desk, they both +remained silent for a while. "We have been wrong," he had said; "I +know we have." And Robinson, as he heard the words, perceived that +from the beginning to the end he had been a victim. No wonder that +the business should not have answered, when such confessions as these +were wrung from the senior partner! But the fact alleged by Mr. Brown +in his own excuse was allowed its due weight by Robinson, even at +that moment. Mr. Brown had possessed money,--money which might have +made his old age comfortable and respectable in obscurity. It was not +surprising that he should be anxious to keep in his own hand some +small remnant of his own property. But as for Jones! What excuse +could be made for Jones! Jones had been a thief; and worse than +ordinary thieves, for his thefts were committed on his own friends. + +"And he has got the money," said Robinson. + +"Oh, yes!" said Mr. Brown, "there's no doubt in life about that." + +"Then, by the heaven above us, he shall refund it to the firm from +which he has stolen it," shouted Robinson, striking the desk with his +fist as he did so. + +"Whish, George, whish; Brisket will hear you." + +"Who cares? I have been robbed on every side till I care for nothing! +What is Brisket to me, or what is your daughter? What is anything?" + +"But, George--" + +"Is there no honesty left in the world, Mr. Brown? That there is no +love I had already learned. Ah me, what an age is this in which we +live! Deceit, deceit, deceit;--it is all deceit!" + +"The heart of a man is very deceitful," said Mr. Brown. "And a +woman's especially." + +"Delilah would have been a true wife now-a-days. But never mind. That +man is still there, and he must be answered. I have no hundred pounds +to give him." + +"No, George; no; we're sure of that." + +"When this business is broken up, as broken up it soon will be--" + +"Oh, George, don't say so." + +"Ay, but it will. Then I shall walk out from Magenta House with empty +pockets and with clean hands." + +"But think of me, George. I had four thousand pounds when we began. +Hadn't I, now?" + +"I do think of you, and I forgive you. Now go up to Brisket, for he +will want his answer. I can assist you no further. My name is still +left to me, and of that you may avail yourself. But as for money, +George Robinson has none." + +About half an hour after that, Mr. Brisket again descended the stairs +with his usual ponderous and slow step, and went forth into the +street, shaking the dust from his feet as he did so. He was sore +offended, and vowed in his heart that he would never enter that +house again. He had pressed Mr. Brown home about the money; and that +gentleman had suggested to him, first, that it should be given to him +on the day after the marriage, and then that it should be included in +the bill. "You offered to take it all in one bill before, you know," +said Mr. Brown. Hereupon Brisket began to think that he did not see +his way at all, and finally left the house in great anger. + +He went direct from thence to Mrs. Poppins' lodgings, where he knew +that he would find Miss Brown. Poppins himself was, of course, at his +work, and the two ladies were together. + +"I've come to wish you good-by," he said, as he walked into the room. + +"Laws, Mr. Brisket!" exclaimed Mrs. Poppins. + +"It's all up about this marriage, and so I thought it right to +come and tell you. I began straightforward, and I mean to end +straightforward." + +"You mean to say you're not going to have her," said Mrs. Poppins. + +"Polly, don't make a fool of yourself," said Maryanne. "Do you think +I want the man. Let him go." And then he did go, and Miss Brown was +left without a suitor. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +MR. BROWN IS TAKEN ILL. + + +Brisket kept his word, and never entered Magenta House again, nor, +as far as George Robinson is aware, has he seen any of the Brown +family from that day on which he gave up his intended marriage to +this present. For awhile Maryanne Brown protested that she was well +satisfied that this should be so. She declared to Mrs. Poppins +that the man was mercenary, senseless, uninteresting, heavy, and +brutal;--and though in the bosom of her own family she did not speak +out with equal freedom, yet from time to time she dropped words +to show that she was not breaking her heart for William Brisket. +But this mood did not last long. Before winter had come round the +bitterness of gall had risen within her heart, and when Christmas was +there her frame of mind was comfortable neither to herself nor to her +unfortunate father. + +During this time the house still went on. Set a business going, and +it is astonishing how long it will continue to move by the force of +mere daily routine. People flocked in for shirts and stockings, and +young women came there to seek their gloves and ribbons, although but +little was done to attract them, either in the way of advertisement +or of excellence of supply. Throughout this wretched month or two +Robinson knew that failure was inevitable, and with this knowledge it +was almost impossible that he should actively engage himself in his +own peculiar branch of business. There was no confidence between the +partners. Jones was conscious of what was coming and was more eager +than ever to feather his own nest. But in these days Mr. Brown +displayed a terrible activity. He was constantly in the shop, and +though it was evident to all eyes that care and sorrow were heaping +upon his shoulders a burden which he could hardly bear, he watched +his son-in-law with the eyes of an Argus. It was terrible to see him, +and terrible, alas, to hear him;--for at this time he had no reserve +before the men and women engaged behind the counters. At first there +had been a pretence of great love and confidence, but this was now +all over. It was known to all the staff that Mr. Brown watched his +son-in-law, and known also that the youngest partner had been treated +with injustice by them both. + +They in the shop, and even Jones himself, knew little of what in +these days was going on upstairs. But Robinson knew, for his room +was close to that in which Mr. Brown and his daughter lived; and, +moreover, in spite of the ill-feeling which could not but exist +between him and Miss Brown, he passed many hours in that room with +her father. The bitterness of gall had now risen within her breast, +and she had begun to realize that truth which must be so terrible for +a woman, that she had fallen to the ground between two stools. It is +a truth terrible to a woman. There is no position in a man's life of +the same aspect. A man may fail in business, and feel that no further +chance of any real success can ever come in his way; or he may fail +in love, and in the soreness of his heart may know that the pleasant +rippling waters of that fountain are for him dried for ever. But with +a woman the two things are joined together. Her battle must be fought +all in one. Her success in life and her romance must go together, +hand in hand. She is called upon to marry for love, and if she marry +not for love, she disobeys the ordinance of nature and must pay the +penalty. But at the same time all her material fortune depends upon +the nature of that love. An industrious man may marry a silly fretful +woman, and may be triumphant in his counting-house though he be +bankrupt in his drawing-room. But a woman has but the one chance. +She must choose her life's companion because she loves him; but she +knows how great is the ruin of loving one who cannot win for her that +worldly success which all in the world desire to win. + +With Maryanne Brown these considerations had become frightfully +momentous. She had in her way felt the desire for some romance in +life, but she had felt more strongly still how needful it was that +she should attain by her feminine charms a position which would put +her above want. "As long as I have a morsel, you shall have half of +it," her father had said to her more than once. And she had answered +him with terrible harshness, "But what am I to do when you have no +longer a morsel to share with me? When you are ruined, or dead, where +must I then look for support and shelter?" The words were harsh, and +she was a very Regan to utter them. But, nevertheless, they were +natural. It was manifest enough that her father would not provide +for her, and for her there was nothing but Eve's lot of finding an +Adam who would dig for her support. She was hard, coarse,--almost +heartless; but it may perhaps be urged in her favour, that she was +not wilfully dishonest. She had been promised to one man, and though +she did not love him she would have married him, intending to do her +duty. But to this he would not consent, except under certain money +circumstances which she could not command. Then she learned to love +another man, and him she would have married; but prudence told her +that she should not do so until he had a home in which to place her. +And thus she fell to the ground between two stools, and, falling, +perceived that there was nothing before her on which her eye could +rest with satisfaction. + +There are women, very many women, who could bear this, if with +sadness, still without bitterness. It is a lot which many women have +to bear; but Maryanne Brown was one within whose bosom all feelings +were turned to gall by the prospect of such a destiny. What had she +done to deserve such degradation and misfortune? She would have been +an honest wife to either husband! That it could be her own fault in +any degree she did not for a moment admit. It was the fault of those +around her, and she was not the woman to allow such a fault to pass +unavenged. + +"Father," she would say, "you will be in the workhouse before this +new year is ended." + +"I hope not, my child." + +"Hope! What's the good of hoping? You will. And where am I to go +then? Mother left a handsome fortune behind her, and this is what +you've brought us to." + +"I've done everything for the best, Maryanne." + +"Why didn't you give that man the money when you had it? You'd have +had a home then when you'd ruined yourself. Now you'll have no home; +neither shall I." + +All this was very hard to be borne. "She nags at me that dreadful, +George," he once said, as he sat in his old arm-chair, with his head +hanging wearily on his chest, "that I don't know where I am or what +I'm doing. As for the workhouse, I almost wish I was there." + +She would go also to Poppins' lodgings, and there quarrel with her +old friend Polly. It may be that at this time she did not receive +all the respect that had been paid to her some months back, and this +reverse was, to her proud spirit, unendurable. "Polly," she said, "if +you wish to turn your back upon me, you can do so. But I won't put up +with your airs." + +"There's nobody turning their back upon you, only yourself," +Polly replied; "but it's frightful to hear the way you're always +a-grumbling;--as if other people hadn't had their ups and downs +besides you." + +Robinson also was taught by the manner of his friend Poppins that he +could not now expect to receive that high deference which was paid +to him about the time that Johnson of Manchester had been in the +ascendant. Those had been the halcyon days of the firm, and Robinson +had then been happy. Men at that time would point him out as he +passed, as one worthy of notice; his companions felt proud when +he would join them; and they would hint to him, with a mysterious +reverence that was very gratifying, their assurance that he was so +deeply occupied as to make it impossible that he should give his time +to the ordinary slow courtesies of life. All this was over now, and +he felt that he was pulled down with rough hands from the high place +which he had occupied. + +"It's all very well," Poppins would say to him, "but the fact is, +you're a-doing of nothing." + +"If fourteen hours a day--" began Robinson. But Poppins instantly +stopped him. + +"Fourteen hours' work a day is nothing, if you don't do anything. A +man may sweat hard digging holes and filling them up again. But what +I say is, he does not do any good. You've been making out all these +long stories about things that never existed, but what's the world +the better for it;--that's what I want to know. When a man makes +a pair of shoes--." And so he went on. Coming from such a man as +Poppins, this was hard to be borne. But nevertheless Robinson did +bear it. Men at the "Goose and Gridiron" also would shoulder him +now-a-days, rather than make way for him. Geese whose names had never +been heard beyond the walls of that room would presume to occupy his +place. And on one occasion, when he rose to address the chamber, the +Grand omitted the courtesy that had ever been paid to him, and forgot +to lay down his pipe. This also he bore without flinching. + +It was about the middle of February when a catastrophe happened which +was the immediate forerunner of the fall of the house. Robinson had +been at his desk early in the morning,--for, though his efforts were +now useless, he was always there; and had been struck with dismay by +the loudness of Maryanne's tone as she rebuked her father. Then Mrs. +Jones had joined them, and the battle had raged still more furiously. +The voice of the old man, too, was heard from time to time. When +roused by suffering to anger he would forget to speak in his usual +falsetto treble, and break out in a few natural words of rough +impassioned wrath. At about ten, Mr. Brown came down into Robinson's +room, and, seating himself on a low chair, remained there for awhile +without moving, and almost without speaking. "Is she gone, George?" +he asked at last. "Which of them?" said Robinson. + +"Sarah Jane. I'm not so used to her, and it's very bad." Then +Robinson looked out and said that Mrs. Jones was gone. Whereupon Mr. +Brown returned to his own room. + +Again and again throughout the day Robinson heard the voices; but +he did not go up to the room. He never did go there now, unless +specially called upon to do so by business. At about noon, however, +there came a sudden silence,--a silence so sudden that he noticed it. +And then he heard a quick step across the floor. It was nothing to +him, and he did not move from his seat; but still he kept his ears +open, and sat thoughtless of other matters, as though he expected +that something was about to happen. The room above was perfectly +still, and for a minute or two nothing was done. But then there came +the fall of a quicker step across the room, and the door was opened, +and Maryanne, descending the four stairs which led to his own closet, +was with him in an instant. "George," she said, forgetting all +propriety of demeanour, "father's in a fit!" + +It is not necessary that the scene which followed should be described +with minuteness in these pages. Robinson, of course, went up to Mr. +Brown's room, and a doctor was soon there in attendance upon the sick +man. He had been struck by paralysis, and thus for a time had been +put beyond the reach of his daughters' anger. Sarah Jane was very +soon there, but the wretched state in which the old man was lying +quieted even her tongue. She did not dare to carry on the combat as +she looked on the contorted features and motionless limbs of the poor +wretch as he lay on his bed. On her mind came the conviction that +this was partly her work, and that if she now spoke above her breath, +those around her would accuse her of her cruelty. So she slunk about +into corners, whispering now and again with her husband, and quickly +took herself off, leaving the task of nursing the old man to the +higher courage of her sister. + +And Maryanne's courage sufficed for the work. Now that she had a task +before her she did it;--as she would have done her household tasks +had she become the wife of Brisket or of Robinson. To the former +she would have been a good wife, for he would have required no +softness. She would have been true to him, tending him and his +children;--scolding them from morning to night, and laying not +unfrequently a rough hand upon them. But for this Brisket would not +have cared. He would have been satisfied, and all would have been +well. It is a thousand pities that, in that matter, Brisket could not +have seen his way. + +And now that her woman's services were really needed, she gave them +to her father readily. It cannot be said that she was a cheerful +nurse. Had he been in a state in which cheerfulness would have +relieved him, her words would have again been sharp and pointed. She +was silent and sullen, thinking always of the bad days that were +coming to her. But, nevertheless, she was attentive to him,--and +during the time of his terrible necessity even good to him. It is so +natural to women to be so, that I think even Regan would have nursed +Lear had Lear's body become impotent instead of his mind. There she +sat close to his bed, and there from time to time Robinson would +visit her. In those days they always called each other George and +Maryanne, and were courteous to each other, speaking solely of the +poor old sick man, who was so near to them both. Of their former +joint hopes, no word was spoken then; nor, at any rate as regards the +lady, was there even a thought of love. As to Jones, he very rarely +came there. He remained in the shop below; where the presence of some +member of the firm was very necessary, for, in these days, the number +of hands employed had become low. + +"I suppose it's all up down there," she said one day, and as she +spoke she pointed towards the shop. At this time her father had +regained his consciousness, and had recovered partially the use of +his limbs. But even yet he could not speak so as to be understood, +and was absolutely helpless. The door of his bedroom was open, and +Robinson was sitting in the front room, to which it opened. + +"I'm afraid so," said he. "There are creditors who are pressing us; +and now that they have been frightened about Mr. Brown, we shall be +sold up." + +"You mean the advertising people?" + +"Yes; the stationer and printer, and one or two of the agents. The +fact is, that the money, which should have satisfied them, has been +frittered away uselessly." + +"It's gone at any rate," said she. "He hasn't got it," and she +pointed to her father. + +"Nor have I," said Robinson. "I came into it empty-handed, and I +shall go out as empty. No one shall say that I cared more for myself +than for the firm. I've done my best, and we have failed. That's +all." + +"I am not going to blame you, George. My look-out is bad enough, but +I will not say that you did it. It is worse for a woman than for a +man. And what am I to do with him?" And again she pointed towards +the inner room. In answer to this Robinson said something as to +the wind being tempered for the shorn lamb. "As far as I can see," +she continued, "the sheep is best off that knows how to keep its +own wool. It's always such cold comfort as that one gets, when the +world means to thrust one to the wall. It's only the sheep that lets +themselves be shorn. The lions and the tigers know how to keep their +own coats on their own backs. I believe the wind blows colder on poor +naked wretches than it does on those as have their carriages to ride +in. Providence is very good to them that know how to provide for +themselves." + +"You are young," said he, "and beautiful--" + +"Psha!" + +"You will always find a home if you require one." + +"Yes; and sell myself! I'll tell you what it is, George Robinson; I +wish to enter no man's home unless I can earn my meat there by my +work. No man shall tell me that I am eating his bread for nothing. As +for love, I don't believe in it. It's all very well for them as have +nothing to do and nothing to think of,--for young ladies who get up +at ten in the morning, and ride about with young gentlemen, and spend +half their time before their looking-glasses. It's like those poetry +books you're so fond of. But it's not meant for them as must earn +their bread by their own sweat. You talk about love, but it's only +madness for the like of you." + +"I shall talk about it no more." + +"You can't afford it, George; nor yet can't I. What a man wants in a +wife is some one to see to his cooking and his clothes; and what a +woman wants is a man who can put a house over her head. Of course, if +she have something of her own, she'll have so much the better house. +As for me, I've got nothing now." + +"That would have made no difference with me." Robinson knew that he +was wrong to say this, but he could not help it. He knew that he +would be a madman if he again gave way to any feeling of tenderness +for this girl, who could be so hard in her manner, so harsh in her +speech, and whose temperament was so utterly unsuited to his own. But +as she was hard and harsh, so was he in all respects the reverse. As +she had told him over and over again, he was tender-hearted even to +softness. + +"No; it wouldn't," she replied. "And, therefore, with all your +cleverness, you are little better than a fool. You have been working +hard and living poor these two years back, and what better are you? +When that old man was weak enough to give you the last of his money, +you didn't keep a penny." + +"Not a penny," said Robinson, with some feeling of pride at his +heart. + +"And what the better are you for that? Look at them Joneses; they +have got money. When the crash comes, they won't have to walk out +into the street. They'll start somewhere in a little way, and will do +very well." + +"And would you have had me become a thief?" + +"A thief! You needn't have been a thief. You needn't have taken it +out of the drawers as some of them did. I couldn't do that myself. +I've been sore tempted, but I could never bring myself to that." Then +she got up, and went to her father, and Robinson returned again to +the figures that were before him. + +"What am I to do with him?" she again said, when she returned. "When +he is able to move, and the house is taken away from us, what am I to +do with him? He's been bad to me, but I won't leave him." + +"Neither will I leave him, Maryanne." + +"That's nonsense. You've got nothing, no more than he has; and he's +not your flesh and blood. Where would you have been now, if we'd been +married on that day." + +"I should have been nearer to him in blood, but not truer to him as a +partner." + +"It's lucky for you that your sort of partnership needn't last for +ever. You've got your hands and your brain, and at any rate you can +work. But who can say what must become of us? Looking at it all +through, George, I have been treated hard;--haven't I, now?" + +He could only say that of such hard treatment none of it rested on +his conscience. At such a moment as this he could not explain to +her that had she herself been more willing to trust in others, more +prone to believe in Providence, less hard and worldly, things would +have been better with her. Even now, could she have relaxed into +tenderness for half-an-hour, there was one at her elbow who would +have taken her at once, with all that burden of a worn-out pauper +parent, and have poured into her lap all the earnings of his life. +But Maryanne Brown could not relax into tenderness, nor would she +ever deign to pretend that she could do so. + +The first day on which Mr. Brown was able to come out into the +sitting-room was the very day on which Brown, Jones, and Robinson +were declared bankrupts. Craddock and Giles, the stationers of St. +Mary Axe, held bills of theirs, as to which they would not,--or +probably could not,--wait; and the City and West End Commercial and +Agricultural Joint-Stock Bank refused to make any further advances. +It was a sad day; but one, at least, of the partners felt relieved +when the blow had absolutely fallen, and the management of the +affairs of the shop was taken out of the hands of the firm. + +"And will we be took to prison?" asked Mr. Brown. They were almost +the first articulate words which he had been heard to utter since the +fit had fallen on him; and Robinson was quick to assure him that no +such misfortune would befall him. + +"They are not at all bitter against us," said Robinson. "They know we +have done our best." + +"And what will they do with us?" again asked Mr. Brown. + +"We shall have a sale, and clear out everything, and pay a +dividend;--and then the world will be open to us for further +efforts." + +"The world will never be open to me again," said Mr. Brown. "And if +I had only have kept the money when I had it--" + +"Mr. Brown," said Robinson, taking him by the hand, "you are ill +now, and seen through the sickly hue of weakness and infirmity, +affairs look bad and distressing; but ere long you will regain your +strength." + +"No, George, I shall never do that." + +On this day the business of the shop still went on, but the proceeds +of such sales as were made were carried to the credit of the +assignees. Mr. Jones was there throughout the day, doing nothing, and +hardly speaking to any one. He would walk slowly from the front of +the shop to the back, and then returning would stand in the doorway, +rubbing his hands one over the other. When any female of specially +smart appearance entered the shop, he would hand to her a chair, +and whisper a few words of oily courtesy; but to those behind the +counter he did not speak a word. In the afternoon Mrs. Jones made her +appearance, and when she had been there a few minutes, was about to +raise the counter door and go behind; but her husband took her almost +roughly by the arm, and muttering something to her, caused her to +leave the shop. "Ah, I knew what such dishonest doings must come to," +she said, as she went her way. "And, what's more, I know who's to +blame." And yet it was she and her husband who had brought this ruin +on the firm. + +"George," said Mr. Brown, that evening, "I have intended for the +best,--I have indeed." + +"Nobody blames you, sir." + +"You blame me about Maryanne." + +"No, by heaven; not now." + +"And she blames me about the money; but I've meant it for the +best;--I have indeed." + +All this occurred on a Saturday, and on that same evening Robinson +attended at his debating club, for the express purpose of explaining +to the members the state of his own firm. "It shall never be thrown +in my teeth," said he, "that I became a bankrupt and was ashamed to +own it." So he got up and made a speech, in which he stated that +Brown, Jones, and Robinson had failed, but that he could not lay +it to his own charge that he had been guilty of any omission or +commission of which he had reason to be ashamed as a British +merchant. This is mentioned here, in order that a fitting record may +be made of the very high compliment which was paid to him on the +occasion by old Pancabinet. + +"Most worthy Grand," said old Pan, and as he spoke he looked first at +the chairman and then down the long table of the room, "I am sure I +may truly say that we have all of us heard the statement made by the +enterprising and worthy Goose with sentiments of regret and pain; but +I am equally sure that we have none of us heard it with any idea that +either dishonour or disgrace can attach itself in the matter to the +name of--" (Order, order, order.) "Worthy Geese are a little too +quick," continued the veteran debater with a smile--"to the name +of--one whom we all so highly value." (Hear, hear, hear.) And then +old Pancabinet moved that the enterprising and worthy Goose was +entitled to the full confidence of the chamber. Crowdy magnanimously +seconded the motion, and the resolution, when carried, was +communicated to Robinson by the worthy Grand. Having thanked them in +a few words, which were almost inaudible from his emotion, he left +the chamber, and immediately afterwards the meeting was adjourned. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +WASTEFUL AND IMPETUOUS SALE. + + +There is no position in life in which a man receives so much +distinguished attention as when he is a bankrupt,--a bankrupt, +that is, of celebrity. It seems as though he had then realized the +legitimate ends of trade, and was brought forth in order that those +men might do him honour with whom he had been good enough to have +dealings on a large scale. Robinson was at first cowed when he +was called upon to see men who were now becoming aware that they +would not receive more than 2_s._ 9_d._ in the pound out of all the +hundreds that were owed to them. But this feeling very soon wore off, +and he found himself laughing and talking with Giles the stationer, +and Burrows the printer, and Sloman the official assignee, as though +a bankruptcy were an excellent joke; and as though he, as one of the +bankrupts, had by far the best of it. These men were about to lose, +or rather had lost, large sums of money; but, nevertheless, they took +it all as a matter of course, and were perfectly good-humoured. No +word of reproach fell from their lips, and when they asked George +Robinson to give them the advantage of his recognized talents in +drawing up the bills for the sale, they put it to him quite as a +favour; and Sloman, the assignee, went so far as to suggest that he +should be remunerated for his work. + +"If I can only be of any service to you," said Robinson, modestly. + +"Of the greatest service," said Mr. Giles. "A tremendous sacrifice, +you know,--enormous liabilities,--unreserved sale,--regardless of +cost; and all that sort of thing." + +"Lord bless you!" said Mr. Burrows. "Do you think he doesn't +understand how to do all that better than you can tell him? You'll +draw out the headings of the posters; won't you, Mr. Robinson?" + +"And put the numbers and figures into the catalogue," suggested Mr. +Sloman. "The best way is to put 'em down at about cost price. We find +we can generally do 'em at that, if we can only get the people to +come sharp enough." And then, as the evening had fallen upon them, +at their labours, they adjourned to the "Four Swans" opposite, and +Robinson was treated to his supper at the expense of his victims. + +On the next day the house was closed. This was done in order that the +goods might be catalogued and prepared for the final sale. The shop +would then be again opened for a week, and, after that, there would +be an end of Brown, Jones, and Robinson. In spite of the good-humour +which was shown by those from whom ill-humour on such an occasion +might have been expected, there was a melancholy about this which was +inexpressible. It has been said that there is nothing so exciting in +trade as a grand final sacrificial sale. But it is like the last act +of a tragedy. It is very good while it lasts, but what is to come +after it? Robinson, as he descended into the darkened shop, and +walked about amidst the lumber that was being dragged forth from +the shelves and drawers, felt that he was like Marius on the ruins +of Carthage. Here had been the scene of his glory! And then he +remembered with what ecstasy he had walked down the shop, when +the crowd without were anxiously inquiring the fate of Johnson of +Manchester. That had been a great triumph! But to what had such +triumphs led him? + +The men and women had gone away to their breakfast, and he was +standing there alone, leaning against one of the counters; he heard a +slight noise behind him, and, turning round, saw Mr. Brown, who had +crept down from his own room without assistance. It was the first +time since his illness that he had left the floor on which he lived, +and it had been intended that he should never go into the shop again. +"Oh, Mr. Brown, is this prudent?" said he, going up to him that he +might give him the assistance of his arm. + +"I wished to see it all once more, George." + +"There it is, then. There isn't much to see." + +"But a deal to feel; isn't there, George?--a deal to feel! It did +look very pretty that day we opened it,--very pretty. The colours +seem to have got dirty now." + +"Bright colours will become dull and dirty, Mr. Brown. It's the way +of the world. The brighter they are in their brightness, the more +dull will they look when the tinsel and gloss are gone." + +"But we should have painted it again this spring, if we'd stopped +here." + +"There are things, Mr. Brown, which one cannot paint again." + +"Iron and wood you can, or anything of the like of that." + +"Yes, Mr. Brown; you may repaint iron and wood; but who can restore +the faded colours to broken hopes and a bankrupt ambition? You see +these arches here which with so light a span bear the burden of the +house above them. So was the span of my heart on that opening day. No +weight of labour then seemed to be too much for me. The arches remain +and will remain; but as for the human heart--" + +"Don't, George,--don't. It will kill me if I see you down in the +mouth." + +"These will be repainted," continued Robinson, "and other breasts +will glow beneath them with hopes as high as those we felt when you +and the others stood here to welcome the public. But what artist can +ever repaint our aspirations? The soiled columns of these windows +will be regilded, and all here will be bright and young again; but +for man, when he loses his glory, there is no regilding. Come, Mr. +Brown, we will go upstairs. They will be here soon, and this is no +place now for you." Then he took him by the hand and led him tenderly +to his apartment. + +There is something inexpressibly melancholy in the idea of bankruptcy +in trade;--unless, indeed, when it may have been produced by absolute +fraud, and in such a form as to allow of the bankrupts going forth +with their pockets full. But in an ordinary way, I know nothing more +sad than the fate of men who have embarked all in a trade venture and +have failed. It may be, and probably is, the fact, that in almost all +such cases the failure is the fault of the bankrupts; but the fault +is so generally hidden from their own eyes, that they cannot see the +justice of their punishment; and is often so occult in its causes +that the justice cannot be discerned by any without deep scrutiny. +They who have struggled and lost all feel only that they have worked +hard, and worked in vain; that they have thrown away their money and +their energy; and that there is an end, now and for ever, to those +sweet hopes of independence with which they embarked their small +boats upon the wide ocean of commerce. The fate of such men is +very sad. Of course we hear of bankrupts who come forth again with +renewed glories, and who shine all the brighter in consequence of +their temporary obscurity. These are the men who can manage to have +themselves repainted and regilded; but their number is not great. One +hears of such because they are in their way memorable; and one does +not hear of the poor wretches who sink down out of the world--back +behind counters, and to menial work in warehouses. Of ordinary +bankrupts one hears nothing. They are generally men who, having saved +a little with long patience, embark it all and lose it with rapid +impotence. They come forward once in their lives with their little +ventures, and then retire never more to be seen or noticed. Of all +the shops that are opened year after year in London, not above a half +remain in existence for a period of twelve months; and not a half +ever afford a livelihood to those who open them. Is not that a matter +which ought to fill one with melancholy? On the establishment of +every new shop there are the same high hopes,--those very hopes with +which Brown, Jones, and Robinson commenced their career. It is not +that all expect to shine forth upon the world as merchant princes, +but all do expect to live upon the fruit of their labour and to put +by that which will make their old age respectable. Alas! alas! Of +those who thus hope how much the larger proportion are doomed to +disappointment. The little lots of goods that are bought and brought +together with so much pride turn themselves into dust and rubbish. +The gloss and gilding wear away, as they wear away also from the +heart of the adventurer, and then the small aspirant sinks back +into the mass of nothings from whom he had thought to rise. When +one thinks of it, it is very sad; but the sadness is not confined +to commerce. It is the same at the bar, with the army, and in the +Church. We see only the few who rise above the waves, and know +nothing of the many who are drowned beneath the waters. + +Perhaps something of all this was in the heart of our friend Robinson +as he placed himself at his desk in his little room. Now, for this +next day or two he would still be somebody in the career of Magenta +House. His services were wanted; and therefore, though he was ruined, +men smiled on him. But how would it be with him when that sale should +be over, and when he would be called upon to leave the premises and +walk forth into the street? He was aware now, though he had never so +thought of himself before, that in the short days of his prosperity +he had taken much upon himself, as the member of a prosperous firm. +It had never then occurred to him that he had given himself airs +because he was Robinson, of the house in Bishopsgate Street; but +now he bethought himself that he had perhaps done so. How would men +treat him when he should no longer be the same Robinson? How had he +condescended to Poppins! how had he domineered at the "Goose and +Gridiron!" how had he patronized those who served him in the shop! +Men remember these things of themselves quite as quickly as others +remember them. Robinson thought of all this now, and almost wished +that those visits to Blackfriars Bridge had not been in vain. + +But nevertheless it behoved him to work. He had promised that he +would use his own peculiar skill for the benefit of the creditors, +and therefore, shaking himself as it were out of his despondency, he +buckled himself to his desk. "It is a grand opportunity," he said, as +he thought of the task before him, "but my work will be no longer for +myself and partners. + + + The lofty rhyme I still must make, + Though other hands shall touch the money. + So do the bees for others' sake + Fill their waxen combs with honey." + + +Then, when he had thus solaced himself with verse, he sat down to his +work. + +There was a mine of wealth before him from which to choose. A +tradesman in preparing the ordinary advertisements of his business is +obliged to remember the morrow. He must not risk everything on one +cast of the die. He must be in some degree modest and circumspect, +lest he shut himself out from all possibility of rising to a higher +note on any future opportunity. But in preparing for a final +sacrifice the artist may give the reins to his imagination, and +plunge at once into all the luxuries of the superlative. But to this +pleasure there was one drawback. The thing had been done so often +that superlatives had lost their value, and it had come to pass that +the strongest language sounded impotently in the palled ears of the +public. What idea can, in its own nature, be more harrowing to the +soul than that of a TREMENDOUS SACRIFICE? but what effect would arise +now-a-days from advertising a sale under such a heading? Every little +milliner about Tottenham Court Road has her "Tremendous Sacrifice!" +when she desires to rid her shelves of ends of ribbons and bits of +soiled flowers. No; some other language than this must be devised. A +phraseology not only startling but new must be invented in preparing +the final sale of the house of Brown, Jones, and Robinson. + +He threw himself back in his chair, and sat for awhile silent, with +his finger fixed upon his brow. The first words were everything, and +what should be the first words? At last, in a moment, they came to +him, and he wrote as follows:-- + + + RUIN! RUIN!! RUIN!!! + + WASTEFUL AND IMPETUOUS SALE. + + At Magenta House, 81, Bishopsgate Street, on March the + 5th, and three following days, the Stock in Trade of + the bankrupts, Brown, Jones, and Robinson, valued at + 209,657_l._ 15_s._ 3_d._, will be thrown broadcast before + the public at the frightful reduction of 75 per Cent. on + the cost price. + + To acquire the impetus and force necessary for the + realization of so vast a property, all goods are quoted for + TRUE, HONEST, BONA-FIDE SALE at One-Quarter the Cost Price. + + This is a Solemn Fact, and one which well merits the + earnest attention of every mother of a family in England. + The goods are of the first class. And as no attempt in + trade has ever hitherto been made of equal magnitude to + that of the bankrupts', it may with absolute truth be said + that no such opportunity as this has ever yet been afforded + to the public of supplying themselves with the richest + articles of luxury at prices which are all but nominal. How + will any lady hereafter forgive herself, who shall fail + to profit by such an opportunity as this? + + +Such was the heading of his bills, and he read and re-read the words, +not without a glow of pleasure. One can be in love with ruin so long +as the excitement lasts. "A Solemn Fact!" he repeated to himself; "or +shall I say a Glorious Fact? Glorious would do well for the public +view of the matter; but as it touches the firm, Solemn, perhaps, is +more appropriate. Mother of a Family! Shall I say, also, of every +Father? I should like to include all; but then the fathers never +come, and it would sound loaded." Again he looked at the bill, again +read it, and then proceeded to describe with great accuracy, on a +fly-leaf, the dimensions of the paper to be used, the size of the +different types, and the adaptation of various colours. "That will +do," said he; "I think that will do." + +But this which he had now done, though, perhaps, the most important +part of his task, was by no means the most laborious. He had before +him various catalogues of the goods, and it remained for him to affix +the prices, to describe the qualities, and to put down the amount of +each on hand. This was no light task, and he worked hard at it into +the middle of the night. But long before that time came he had thrust +away from him the inefficient lists with which he had been supplied, +and trusted himself wholly to his imagination. So may be seen the +inspired schoolmaster who has beneath his hands the wretched verses +of a dull pupil. For awhile he attempts to reduce to reason and +prosody the futile efforts of the scholar, but anon he lays aside in +disgust the distasteful task, and turning his eyes upwards to the +Muse who has ever been faithful, he dashes off a few genial lines of +warm poetry. The happy juvenile, with wondering pen, copies the work, +and the parent's heart rejoices over the prize which his child has +won. So was it now with Robinson. What could he do with a poor gross +of hose, numbered 7 to 10? or what with a score or two of middling +kids? There were five dozen and nine left of the Katakairions. Was he +to put down such numbers as those in his sacrificial catalogue? For +awhile he kept these entries before him as a guide--as a guide which +in some sort he might follow at a wide distance. But he found that +it was impossible for him to be so guided, even at any distance, and +at last he thrust the poor figures from him altogether and trampled +them under his feet. "Tablecloths, seven dozen and a half, different +sizes." That was the last item he read, and as he pushed it away, the +following were the words which his fertile pen produced:-- + + + The renowned Flemish Treble Table Damasks, of argentine + brightness and snow-like purity, with designs of absolute + grandeur and artistic perfection of outline. To dine eight + persons, worth 1_l,_ 8_s._ 6_d._, for 7_s._ 3_d._; to dine + twelve, worth 1_l._ 18_s._ 6_d._, for 10_s._ 11-1/2_d._; + to dine sixteen, worth 3_l._ 19_s._ 6_d._, for 19_s._ + 9-1/4_d._; and so on, at the same rate, to any size which + the epicurean habits of this convivial age can possibly + require. + + +Space will not permit us here to give the bill entire, but after this +fashion was it framed. And then the final note was as follows:-- + + + N.B.--Many tons weight of First-Class Table Damasks and + Sheetings, soiled but not otherwise impaired; also of + Ribbons, Gloves, Hose, Shirts, Crinolines, Paletots, + Mantles, Shawls, Prints, Towels, Blankets, Quilts, and + Flouncings, will be sold on the first two days at BUYERS' + OWN PRICES. + + +"There," said he, as he closed down his ink-bottle at three o'clock +in the morning, "that, I suppose, is my last day's work in the house +of Brown, Jones, and Robinson. I have worked, not for myself, but +others, and I have worked honestly." Then he went home, and slept as +though he had no trouble on his mind. + +On the following morning he again was there, and Messrs. Giles, +Burrows, and Sloman attended with him. Mr. Brown, also, and Mr. Jones +were present. On this occasion the meeting was held in Mr. Brown's +sitting-room, and they were all assembled in order that Robinson +might read over the sale list as he had prepared it. Poor Mr. Brown +sat in a corner of his old sofa, very silent. Now and again, as some +long number or specially magniloquent phrase would strike his ear, he +expressed his surprise by a sort of gasp; but throughout the whole +morning he did not speak a word as to the business on hand. Jones for +the first few minutes attempted to criticize; but the authority of +Mr. Sloman and the burly aspect of Mr. Giles the paper-dealer, were +soon too much for his courage, and he also collapsed into silence. +But the three gentlemen who were most concerned did not show all that +silent acquiescence which George Robinson's painful exertions on +their behalf so richly deserved. + +"Impetuous!" said Mr. Sloman. "What does 'impetuous' mean? I never +heard tell before of an impetuous sacrifice. Tremendous is the proper +word, Mr. Robinson." + +"Tremendous is not my word," answered Robinson; "and as to the +meaning of impetuous--" + +"It sounds well, I think," said Mr. Burrows; and then they went on. + +"Broadcast--broadcast!" said Mr. Giles. "That means sowing, don't +it?" + +"Exactly," said Robinson. "Have not I sown, and are not you to reap? +If you will allow me I will go on." He did go on, and by degrees got +through the whole heading; but there was hardly a word which was not +contested. It is all very well for a man to write, when he himself is +the sole judge of what shall be written; but it is a terrible thing +to have to draw up any document for the approval of others. One's +choicest words are torn away, one's figures of speech are maltreated, +one's stops are misunderstood, and one's very syntax is put to +confusion; and then, at last, whole paragraphs are cashiered as +unnecessary. First comes the torture and then the execution. "Come, +Wilkins, you have the pen of a ready writer; prepare for us this +document." In such words is the victim addressed by his colleagues. +Unhappy Wilkins! he little dreams of the misery before him, as he +proudly applies himself to his work. + +But it is beautiful to hear and see, when two scribes have been +appointed, how at first they praise each other's words, as did +Trissotin and Vadius; how gradually each objects to this comma +or to that epithet; how from moment to moment their courage will +arise,--till at last every word that the other has written is foul +nonsense and flat blasphemy;--till Vadius at last will defy his +friend in prose and verse, in Greek and Latin. + +Robinson on this occasion had no rival, but not the less were his +torments very great. "Argentine brightness!" said Mr. Giles. "What's +'argentine?' I don't like 'argentine.' You'd better put that out, Mr. +Robinson." + +"It's the most effective word in the whole notice," said Robinson, +and then he passed on. + +"Tons weight of towelling!" said Mr. Sloman. "That's coming it a +little too strong, Mr. Robinson." + +This was the end of the catalogue. "Gentlemen," said Robinson, rising +from his chair, "what little I have been able to do for you in this +matter I have done willingly. There is the notice of your sale, drawn +out in such language as seems suitable to me. If it answers your +purpose, I pray that you will use it. If you can frame one that will +do so better, I beg that no regard for my feelings may stand in your +way. My only request to you is this,--that if my words be used, they +may not be changed or garbled." Then, bowing to them all, he left the +room. + +They knew the genius of the man, and the notice afterwards appeared +exactly in the form in which Robinson had framed it. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +FAREWELL. + + +For the four appointed days the sale was continued, and it was +wondrous to see with what animation the things went off. It seemed as +though ladies were desirous of having a souvenir from Magenta House, +and that goods could be sold at a higher price under the name of a +sacrifice than they would fetch in the ordinary way of trade. "If +only we could have done as well," Robinson said to his partner Jones, +wishing that, if possible, there might be good humour between them in +these last days. + +"We did do quite as well, and better," said Jones, "only the money +was thrown away in them horrid advertisements." After that, George +Robinson made no further effort to maintain friendly relations with +Mr. Jones. + +"George," said Mr. Brown, "I hope they'll allow me something. They +ought; oughtn't they? There wouldn't have been nothing, only for my +four thousand pounds." Robinson did not take the trouble to explain +to him that had he kept his four thousand pounds out of the way, +the creditors would not now have any lost money to lament. Robinson +was careful to raise no hopes by his answer; but, nevertheless, he +resolved that when the sale was over, he would do his best. + +On the fifth day, when the shop had been well nigh cleared of all the +goods, the premises themselves were sold. Brown, Jones, and Robinson +had taken them on a term of years, and the lease with all the +improvements was put up to auction. When we say that the price which +the property fetched exceeded the whole sum spent for external +and internal decorations, including the Magenta paint and the +plate-glass, we feel that the highest possible testimony is given to +the taste and talent displayed by the firm. + +It was immediately after this that application was made to the +creditors on behalf of Mr. Brown. + +"He brought four thousand pounds into the business," said Robinson, +"and now he hasn't a penny of his own." + +"And we have none of us got a penny," whined out Mr. Jones, who was +standing by. + +"Mr. Jones and I are young, and can earn our bread," said Robinson; +"but that old man must go into the workhouse, if you do not feel it +possible to do something for him." + +"And so must my poor babbies," said Jones. "As to work, I ain't fit +for it." + +But he was soon interrupted, and made to understand that he might +think himself lucky if he were not made to disgorge that which +he already possessed. As to Mr. Brown, the creditors with much +generosity agreed that an annuity of 20_s._ a week should be +purchased for him out of the proceeds of the sale. "I ain't long for +this world, George," he said, when he was told; "and they ought to +get it cheap. Put 'em up to that, George; do now." Twenty shillings a +week was not much for all his wants; but, nevertheless, he might be +more comfortable with that than he had been for many a year, if only +his daughter would be kind to him. Alas, alas! was it within the +nature of things that his daughters should be kind? + +It was on this occasion, when the charitable intention of the +creditors was communicated to Mr. Brown by Robinson, that that +conversation took place to which allusion has been made in the +opening chapter of these memoirs. Of course, it was necessary that +each member of the firm should provide in some way for his future +necessities. Mr. Jones had signified his intention of opening a small +hairdresser's shop in Gray's Inn Lane. "I was brought up to it once," +he said, "and it don't require much ready money." Both Mr. Brown and +Robinson knew that he was in possession of money, but it was not now +worth their while to say more about this. The fox had made good his +prey, and who could say where it was hidden? + +"And what will you do, George?" asked Mr. Brown. + +Then it was that Robinson communicated to them the fact that +application had been made to him by the Editor of a first class +Magazine for a written account of the doings of the firm. "I think it +may be of advantage to commerce in general," the Editor had said with +his customary dignity of expression and propriety of demeanour. "I +quite agree with you," Robinson had replied, "if only the commercial +world of Great Britain can be induced to read the lesson." The Editor +seemed to think that the commercial world of Great Britain did read +the CORNHILL MAGAZINE, and an arrangement was quickly made between +them. Those who have perused the chapter in question will remember +how Robinson yielded when the senior partner pleaded that as they had +been partners so long, they should still be partners to the end; and +how he had yielded again when it was suggested to him that he should +receive some assistance in the literary portion of the work. That +assistance has been given, and George Robinson hopes that it may have +been of advantage. + +"I suppose we shall see each other sometimes, George," Maryanne said +to him, when she came down to his little room to bid him farewell. + +"I hope we shall, Maryanne." + +"I don't suppose we shall ever dance together again at the Hall of +Harmony." + +"No, Maryanne, never. That phase of life is for me over. Neither with +you nor with any other fair girl shall I again wanton away the flying +hours. Life is too precious for that; and the work which falls upon a +man's shoulders is too exacting. The Hall of Harmony is for children, +Maryanne;--for grown children, perhaps, but still for children." + +"You used to like it, George." + +"I did; and could again. So could I again stop with longing mouth at +the window of that pastrycook, whose tarts in early life attracted +all my desires. I could again be a boy in everything, did I not +recognize the stern necessity which calls me to be a man. I could +dance with you still, whirling swiftly round the room to the sweet +sound of the music, stretching the hours of delight out to the very +dawn, were it not for Adam's doom. In the sweat of my brow must I eat +my bread. There is a time for all things, Maryanne; but with me the +time for such pastimes as those is gone." + +"You'll keep company with some other young woman before long, George, +and then you'll be less gloomy." + +"Never! That phase of life is also over. Why should I? To what +purpose?" + +"To be married, of course." + +"Yes; and become a woman's slave, like poor Poppins; or else have +my heart torn again with racking jealousy, as it was with you. No, +Maryanne! Let those plodding creatures link themselves with women +whose bodies require comforting but whose minds never soar. The world +must be populated, and therefore let the Briskets marry." + +"I suppose you've heard of him, George?" + +"Not a word." + +"La, now! I declare you've no curiosity to inquire about any one. If +I was dead and buried to-morrow, I believe you'd never ask a word +about me." + +"I would go to your grave, Maryanne, and sit there in silence." + +"Would you, now? I hope you won't, all the same. But about Brisket. +You remember when that row was, and you were so nigh choking him?" + +"Do I remember? Ay, Maryanne; when shall I forget it? It was the last +hour of my madness." + +"I never admired you so much as I did then, George. But never mind. +That's all done and over now;--isn't it?" + +"All done and over," said Robinson, mournfully repeating her words. + +"Of course it is. But about Brisket. Immediately after that, the very +next day, he went out to Gogham,--where he was always going, you +know, with that cart of his, to buy sheep. Sheep, indeed!" + +"And wasn't it for sheep?" + +"No, George. Brisket was the sheep, and there was there a little +she-wolf that has got him at last into her claws. Brisket is married, +George." + +"What! another Poppins! Ha! ha! ha! We shall not want for children." + +"He has seen his way at last. She was a drover's daughter; and now +he's married her and brought her home." + +"A drover's daughter?" + +"Well, he says a grazier's; but it's all the same. He never would +have done for me, George; never. And I'll tell you more; I don't +think I ever saw the man as would. I should have taken either of +you,--I was so knocked about among 'em. But I should have made you +miserable, whichever it was. It's a consolation to me when I think of +that." + +And it was a consolation also to him. He had loved her,--had loved +her very dearly. He had been almost mad for love of her. But yet +he had always known, that had he won her she would have made him +miserable. There was consolation in that when he thought of his loss. +Then, at last, he wished her good-by. "And now farewell, Maryanne. Be +gentle with that old man." + +"George," she said, "as long as he wants me, I'll stick to him. He's +never been a good father to me; but if he wants me, I'll stick to +him. As to being gentle, it's not in me. I wasn't brought up gentle, +and you can't teach an old dog new tricks." Those were the last words +she spoke to him, and they had, at any rate, the merit of truth. + +And then, before he walked out for the last time from the portals of +Magenta House, he bade adieu to his old partner Mr. Brown. "God bless +you, George!" said the old man; "God bless you!" + +"Mr. Brown," said he, "I cannot part from you without acknowledging +that the loss of all your money sits very heavy on my heart." + +"Never think of it, George." + +"But I shall think of it. You were an old man, Mr. Brown, and the +money was enough for you; or, if you did go into trade again, the old +way would have suited you best." + +"Well, George, now you mention it, I think it would." + +"It was the same mistake, Mr. Brown, that we have so often heard +of,--putting old wine into a new bottle. The bottle is broken and the +wine is spilt. For myself, I've learned a lesson, and I am a wiser +man; but I'm sorry for you, Mr. Brown. + +"I shall never say a word to blame you, George." + +"As to my principles,--that system of commerce which I have +advocated,--as to that, I am still without a doubt. I am certain +of the correctness of my views. Look at Barlywig and his colossal +fortune, and 40,000_l._ a year spent in advertising." + +"But then you should have your 40,000_l._ a year." + +"By no means! But the subject is a long one, Mr. Brown, and cannot +now be discussed with advantage. This, however, I do feel,--that I +should not have embarked your little all in such an enterprise. It +was enough for you; but to me, with my views, it was nothing,--less +than nothing. I will begin again with unimpeded wings, and you shall +hear of my success. But for your sake, Mr. Brown, I regret what is +past." Then he pressed the old man's hand and went forth from Magenta +House. From that day to this present one he has never again entered +the door. + +"And so Brisket is married. Brisket is right. Brisket is a happy +man," he said to himself, as he walked slowly down the passage by +St. Botolph's Church. "Brisket is certainly right; I will go and see +Brisket." So he did; and continuing his way along the back of the +Bank and the narrow street which used to be called Lad Lane,--I wish +they would not alter the names of the streets; was it not enough +that the "Swan with Two Necks" should be pulled down, foreshadowing, +perhaps, in its ruin the fate of another bird with two necks, from +which this one took its emblematic character?--and so making his way +out into Aldersgate Street. He had never before visited the Lares of +Brisket, for Brisket had been his enemy. But Brisket was his enemy no +longer, and he walked into the shop with a light foot and a pleasant +smile. There, standing at some little distance behind the block, +looking with large, wondering eyes at the carcases of the sheep which +hung around her, stood a wee little woman, very pretty, with red +cheeks, and red lips, and short, thick, clustering curls. This was +the daughter of the grazier from Gogham. "The shopman will be back +in a minute," said she. "I ought to be able to do it myself, but I'm +rather astray about the things yet awhile." Then George Robinson told +her who he was. + +She knew his name well, and gave him her little plump hand in token +of greeting. "Laws a mercy! are you George Robinson? I've heard such +a deal about you. He's inside, just tidying hisself a bit for dinner. +Who do you think there is here, Bill?" and she opened the door +leading to the back premises. "Here's George Robinson, that you're +always so full of." Then he followed her out into a little yard, +where he found Brisket in the neighbourhood of a pump, smelling +strongly of yellow soap, with his sleeves tucked up, and hard at work +with a rough towel. + +"Robinson, my boy," cried he, "I'm glad to see you; and so is Mrs. +B. Ain't you, Em'ly?" Whereupon Em'ly said that she was delighted +to see Mr. Robinson. "And you're just in time for as tidy a bit of +roast veal as you won't see again in a hurry,--fed down at Gogham +by Em'ly's mother. I killed it myself, with my own hands. Didn't I, +Em'ly?" + +Robinson stopped and partook of the viands which were so strongly +recommended to him; and then, after dinner, he and Brisket and the +bride became very intimate and confidential over a glass of hot +brandy-and-water. + +"I don't do this kind of thing, only when I've got a friend," said +Brisket, tapping the tumbler with his spoon. "But I really am glad to +see you. I've took a fancy to you now, ever since you went so nigh +throttling me. By Jove! though, I began to think it was all up with +me,--only for Sarah Jane." + +"But he didn't!" said Emily, looking first at her great husband and +then at Robinson's slender proportions. + +"Didn't he though? But he just did. And what do you think, Em'ly? He +wanted me once to sit with him on a barrel of gunpowder." + +"A barrel of gunpowder!" + +"And smoke our pipes there,--quite comfortable. And then he wanted me +to go and fling ourselves into the river. That was uncommon civil, +wasn't it? And then he well nigh choked me." + +"It was all about that young woman," said Emily, with a toss of her +head. "And from all I can hear tell, she wasn't worth fighting for. +As for you, Bill, I wonder at you; so I do." + +"I thought I saw my way," said Brisket. + +"It's well for you that you've got somebody near you that will see +better now. And as for you, Mr. Robinson; I hope you won't be long in +the dumps, neither." Whereupon he explained to her that he was by no +means in the dumps. He had failed in trade, no doubt, but he was now +engaged upon a literary work, as to which considerable expectation +had been raised, and he fully hoped to provide for his humble wants +in this way till he should be able to settle himself again to some +new commercial enterprise. + +"It isn't that as she means," said Brisket. "She means about taking a +wife. That's all the women ever thinks of." + +"What I was saying is, that as you and Bill were both after her, +and as you are both broke with her, and seeing that Bill's provided +himself like--" + +"And a charming provision he has made," said Robinson. + +"I did see my way," said Brisket, with much self-content. + +"So you ought to look elsewhere as well as he," continued Emily. +"According to all accounts, you've neither of you lost so very much +in not getting Maryanne Brown." + +"Maryanne Brown is a handsome young woman," said Robinson. + +"Why, she's as red as red," said Mrs. Brisket; "quite carroty, they +tell me. And as for handsome, Mr. Robinson;--handsome is as handsome +does; that's what I say. If I had two sweethearts going about talking +of gunpowder, and throwing themselves into rivers along of me, +I'd--I'd--I'd never forgive myself. So, Mr. Robinson, I hope you'll +suit yourself soon. Bill, don't you take any more of that brandy. +Don't now, when I tell you not." + +Then Robinson rose and took his leave, promising to make future +visits to Aldersgate Street. And as Brisket squeezed his hand at +parting, all the circumstances of that marriage were explained in a +very few words. "She had three hundred, down, you know;--really down. +So I said done and done, when I found the money wasn't there with +Maryanne. And I think that I've seen my way." + +Robinson congratulated him, and assured him that he thought he had +seen it very clearly. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +GEORGE ROBINSON'S DREAM. + + +George Robinson, though his present wants were provided for by his +pen, was by no means disposed to sink into a literary hack. It was by +commerce that he desired to shine. It was to trade,--trade, in the +highest sense of the word,--that his ambition led him. Down at the +Crystal Palace he had stood by the hour together before the statue +of the great Cheetham,--ominous name!--of him who three centuries +ago had made money by dealing in Manchester goods. Why should not +he also have his statue? But then how was he to begin? He had begun, +and failed. With hopeful words he had declared to Mr. Brown that not +on that account was he daunted; but still there was before him the +burden of another commencement. Many of us know what it is to have +high hopes, and yet to feel from time to time a terrible despondency +when the labours come by which those hopes should be realized. +Robinson had complained that he was impeded in his flight by Brown +and Jones. Those impediments had dropped from him now; and yet he +knew not how to proceed upon his course. + +He walked forth one evening, after his daily task, pondering these +things as he went. He made his solitary way along the Kingsland Road, +through Tottenham, and on to Edmonton, thinking deeply of his future +career. What had John Gilpin done that had made him a citizen of +renown? Had he advertised? Or had he contented himself simply with +standing behind his counter till customers should come to him? In +John Gilpin's time the science of advertisement was not born;--or, if +born, was in its earliest infancy. And yet he had achieved renown. +And Cheetham;--but probably Cheetham had commenced with a capital. + +Thus he walked on till he found himself among the fields,--those +first fields which greet the eyes of a Londoner, in which wheat is +not grown, but cabbages and carrots for the London market; and here +seating himself upon a gate, he gave his mind up to a close study +of the subject. First he took from his pocket a short list which he +always carried, and once more read over the names and figures which +it bore. + + + Barlywig, L40,000 per annum. + + +How did Barlywig begin such an outlay as that? He knew that Barlywig +had, as a boy, walked up to town with twopence in his pocket, and in +his early days, had swept out the shop of a shoemaker. The giants of +trade all have done that. Then he went on with the list:-- + + + Holloway . . . . L30,000 per annum. + Moses . . . . 10,000 " + Macassar Oil . . 10,000 " + Dr. De Jongh . . 10,000 " + + +What a glorious fraternity! There were many others that followed with +figures almost equally stupendous. Revalenta Arabica! Bedsteads! +Paletots! Food for Cattle! But then how did these great men begin? +He himself had begun with some money in his hand, and had failed. +As to them, he believed that they had all begun with twopence. As +for genius and special talent, it was admitted on all sides that +he possessed it. Of that he could feel no doubt, as other men were +willing to employ him. + +"Shall I never enjoy the fruits of my own labour?" said he to +himself. "Must I still be as the bee, whose honey is robbed from him +as soon as made? + + + The lofty rhyme I still must build, + Though other hands shall touch the money. + + +Will this be my fate for ever?-- + + + The patient oxen till the furrows, + But never eat the generous corn. + + +Shall the corn itself never be my own?" + +And as he sat there the words of Poppins came upon his memory. "You +advertising chaps never do anything. All that printing never makes +the world any richer." At the moment he had laughed down Poppins with +absolute scorn; but now, at this solitary moment he began to reflect +whether there might be any wisdom in his young friend's words. "The +question has been argued," he continued in his soliloquy, "by the +greatest philosopher of the age. A man goes into hats, and in order +to force a sale, he builds a large cart in the shape of a hat, paints +it blue, and has it drawn through the streets. He still finds that +his sale is not rapid; and with a view of increasing it, what shall +he do? Shall he make his felt hats better, or shall he make his +wooden hat bigger? Poppins and the philosopher say that the former +plan will make the world the richer, but they do not say that it will +sell the greater number of hats. Am I to look after the world? Am I +not to look to myself? Is not the world a collection of individuals, +all of whom are doing so? Has anything been done for the world by the +Quixotic aspirations of general philanthropy, at all equal to that +which individual enterprise has achieved? Poppins and the philosopher +would spend their energies on a good hat. But why? Not that they love +the head that is to wear it. The sale would still be their object. +They would sell hats, not that the heads of men may be well covered, +but that they themselves might live and become rich. To force a sale +must be the first duty of a man in trade, and a man's first duty +should be all in all to him. + +"If the hats sold from the different marts be not good enough, with +whom does the fault rest? Is it not with the customers who purchase +them? Am I to protect the man who demands from me a cheap hat? Am I +to say, 'Sir, here is a cheap hat. It is made of brown paper, and the +gum will run from it in the first shower. It will come to pieces when +worn and disgrace you among your female acquaintances by becoming +dinged and bulged?' Should I do him good? He would buy his cheap +hat elsewhere, and tell pleasant stories of the madman he had met. +The world of purchasers will have cheap articles, and the world of +commerce must supply them. The world of purchasers will have their +ears tickled, and the world of commerce must tickle them. Of what use +is all this about adulteration? If Mrs. Jones will buy her sausages +at a lower price per pound than pork fetches in the market, has she +a right to complain when some curious doctor makes her understand +that her viands have not been supplied exclusively from the pig? +She insists on milk at three halfpence a quart; but the cow will +not produce it. The cow cannot produce it at that price, unless +she be aided by the pump; and therefore the pump aids her. If there +be dishonesty in this, it is with the purchaser, not with the +vendor,--with the public, not with the tradesman." + +But still as he sat upon the gate, thus arguing with himself, a +dream came over him, a mist of thought as it were, whispering to him +strangely that even yet he might be wrong. He endeavoured to throw it +off, shaking himself as it were, and striving to fix his mind firmly +upon his old principles. But it was of no avail. He knew he was +awake; but yet he dreamed; and his dream was to him as a terrible +nightmare. + +What if he were wrong! What if those two philosophers had on their +side some truth! He would fain be honest if he knew the way. What if +those names upon his list were the names of false gods, whose worship +would lead him to a hell of swindlers instead of the bright heaven of +commercial nobility! "Barlywig is in Parliament," he said to himself, +over and over again, in loud tones, striving to answer the spirit +of his dream. "In Parliament! He sits upon committees; men jostle +to speak to him; and he talks loud among the big ones of the earth. +He spends forty thousand a year in his advertisements, and grows +incredibly rich by the expenditure. Men and women flock in crowds to +his shop. He lives at Albert Gate in a house big enough for a royal +duke, and is the lord of ten thousand acres in Yorkshire. Barlywig +cannot have been wrong, let that philosopher philosophize as he +will!" But still the dream was there, crushing him like a nightmare. + +"Why don't you produce something, so as to make the world richer?" +Poppins had said. He knew well what Poppins had meant by making the +world richer. If a man invent a Katakairion shirt, he does make the +world richer; if it be a good one, he makes it much richer. But the +man who simply says that he has done so adds nothing to the world's +wealth. His answer had been that it was his work to sell the shirts, +and that of the purchaser to buy them. Let each look to his own work. +If he could be successful in his selling, then he would have a right +to be proud of his success. The world would be best served by close +attention on the part of each to his own business. Such had been +the arguments with which he had silenced his friend and contented +himself, while the excitement of the shop in Bishopsgate Street was +continued; but now, as he sat there upon the gate, this dream came +upon him, and he began to doubt. Could it be that a man had a double +duty, each separate from the other;--a duty domestic and private, +requiring his devotion and loyalty to his wife, his children, his +partners, and himself; and another duty, widely extended in all its +bearings and due to the world in which he lived? Could Poppins have +seen this, while he was blind? Was a man bound to produce true shirts +for the world's benefit even though he should make no money by so +doing;--either true shirts or none at all? + +The evening light fell upon him as he still sat there on the gate, +and he became very melancholy. "If I have been wrong," he said to +himself, "I must give up the fight. I cannot begin again now and +learn new precepts. After all that I have done with that old man's +money, I cannot now own that I have been wrong, and commence again +on a theory taught to me by Poppins. If this be so, then farewell to +Commerce!" And as he said so, he dropped from his seat, and, leaning +over the rail, hid his face within his hands. + +As he stood there, suddenly a sound struck his ears, and he knew +that the bells of Edmonton were ringing. The church was distant, but +nevertheless the tones came sharp upon him with their clear music. +They rang on quickly, loudly, and with articulate voice. Surely there +were words within those sounds. What was it they were saying to him? +He listened for a few seconds, for a minute or two, for five minutes; +and then his ear and senses had recognized the language--"Turn again, +Robinson, Member of Parliament." He heard it so distinctly that his +ear would not for a moment abandon the promise. The words could not +be mistaken. "Turn again, Robinson, Member of Parliament." + +Then he did turn, and walked back to London with a trusting heart. + + + +London: Printed by Smith, Elder and Co., Old Bailey, E.C. + + + + + * * * * * * + + + +Transcriber's note: + + Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. + + Chapter VIII, paragraph 56. Previously Fame was attributed + masculine gender. The reader might note the sentence in + this paragraph: On that morrow he was more enterprising + than ever, and it was then that he originated the idea of + the four men in armour, and of Fame with HER classical + horn and gilded car. + + Specific changes in wording of the text are listed below. + + Chapter XII, paragraph 25. The word "partners" was changed + to "partner" in the sentence: And might it not be well for + her to forget that other Samson, and once more to trust + herself to her father's PARTNER? + + Chapter XVI, paragraph 44. The order of the words "was it" + was inverted in the sentence: Why WAS IT, that at this + eventful period of Robinson's existence Mrs. Poppins + should have turned against him? + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STRUGGLES OF BROWN, JONES, AND +ROBINSON*** + + +******* This file should be named 27533.txt or 27533.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/7/5/3/27533 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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